Vershbow Disappoints Opposition Leader

The main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) spokeswoman Cha Young said her party was disappointed by U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow's apparently heavy-handed tactics in settling the U.S. beef import controversy.

On Tuesday, UDP Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu met with President Lee Myung-bak, during which Sohn asked the President to ban imports of U.S. beef that come from cattle older than 30 months, which poses the greatest potential danger from mad-cow disease.

According to the UDP, after the meeting, Ambassador Vershbow made a telephone call to Sohn without a prior notice and told Sohn that his demand to President Lee was disappointing.

Spokeswoman Cha said such an action was out of tune with diplomatic protocol. While an American envoy can formally solicit cooperation it's highly unusual and disappointing to call the head of the political party to ``protest,'' Cha said. Her party has asked the U.S. Embassy for an explanation. No immediate comment was available from the embassy.