Outgoing Defense Minister Satisfied With Achievement

Outgoing Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo talks with officials of the Korea Military Academy while in northern Seoul to give a lecture to cadets Feb. 27. / Yonhap

By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

In the days following the second inter-Korean summit talks in Pyongyang last October, one picture was widely featured in every newspaper across South Korea.

The picture showed Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo standing upright, not bowing as he shook hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during a ceremony, while other South Korean delegates, including then spy chief Kim Man-bok, bowed their heads.

Kim's behavior was welcomed by those who feared the South would make too many concessions to the North during the summit, even on major security issues such as the western maritime border, Northern Limit Line (NLL).

Kim was later nicknamed ``upright Jang-soo'' or ``straightforward Jang-soo'' after the minister's candid and straightforward character and his attitude in the picture.

During the inter-Korean defense ministerial talks Nov. 27-29 in Pyongyang, Kim firmly rejected North Korea's demand that the NLL be redrawn despite pressure from liberal Cheong Wa Dae secretaries to be more flexible on the sea border issue.

The NLL, drawn by the United Nations Command at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, has served as the de facto sea border between the two Koreas.

``Before departing for Pyongyang, I told (former) President Roh Moo-hyun that I might return home empty-handed,'' Kim, 60, said in an interview with The Korea Times Friday. '"hankfully, the President said `it's okay.' He entrusted me with the NLL matter, and I was resolved to protect the NLL even though the talks would be ruptured over the sea border.''

Kim's farewell ceremony was held Friday at the ministry in Seoul. Former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Lee Sang-hee replaces Kim.

The outgoing minister recalled that negotiations with the United States over the timing of the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) of the Korean military was the toughest task of his 15 months of tenure.

Kim successfully concluded negotiations early last year by setting the transfer date of April 17, 2012. Washington originally wanted the transition to take place in 2009.

``I made utmost effort to produce the best results, taking both the security conditions on the Korean Peninsula and Korean people's worry over a possible security vacuum from the transfer into consideration,'' he said.

Kim stressed the Korea-U.S. military alliance has remained and will remain solid.

``As for the Korea-U.S. military alliance, unlike other relations between the two countries, I'm confident that it remains strong and solid on the basis of mutual trust,'' said Kim.

``I always tried to talk with my U.S. counterparts with an open mind,'' he added. ``I asked them for what we wanted and tried to give them what they wanted. That worked very well.''

Earlier this month, Kim was awarded the U.S. Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the highest honorary award presented by the Pentagon to private citizens, in recognition of his dedication to promoting the Korea-U.S. alliance. Kim is the first South Korean defense chief to be awarded the top Defense Department medal.

In 2006, Kim was granted the Legion of Merit, a top U.S. military decoration.

``I tried my best, and I'm quite satisfied with my service as defense minister,'' Kim said with big smile. ``My most memorable moment? It's still in the future.''

A 1971 graduate of the Korea Military Academy, Kim held top posts in the Army and JCS.

He served as the deputy commander of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command between 2005 and 2005, after serving as operations chief director of the JCS between 2003-2004. Kim took over as Army Chief of Staff between 2005 and 2006.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

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