US envoy's blunt talks add to concerns on alliance

U.S. Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris is accused of being disrespectful toward South Korea's sovereignty following his remarks on President Moon Jae-in's intention to restart suspended inter-Korean projects. / AP-Yonhap

By Yi Whan-woo

Whenever he is asked about the South Korea-U.S. alliance, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris has always reaffirmed its importance.

For instance, he said the bilateral bond “remains strong and vibrant” at one time, and that the alliance was the “linchpin for Northeast Asian security” at another.

Ironically, it is Harris' straightforward yet blunt way with words that is viewed by Koreans as disruptive toward the alliance.

And concerns over the impact of his communication style are apparently looming large after Cheong Wa Dae explicitly expressed discontent with him over his latest remarks.

Speaking before foreign correspondents, Thursday, Harris said South Korea should consult with the U.S. about its plans to engage with North Korea to avoid any “misunderstandings” that may trigger sanctions.

His remarks were related to President Moon Jae-in's statement that individual tours to North Korea did not violate U.N. sanctions and that it could eventually induce the North to return to dialogue.

“It's very inappropriate for the ambassador to make such a claim in the media over remarks made by the president of the host nation,” a Cheong Wa Dae official said.

It came after anti-U.S. protesters as well as center-right and progressive politicians criticized him in November for allegedly pressing Lee Hye-hoon, a Bareunmirae Party lawmaker and also the chairwoman of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, on South Korea's share of costs for the maintenance of U.S. troops here.

The Ministry of Unification also expressed concern over the remarks made Thursday, in addition to the liberal lawmakers and activists.

“Our policy with regard to North Korea comes under our sovereignty,” ministry spokesman Lee Sang-min said. “The U.S. has repeatedly made it clear through diverse channels that it respects South Korea's sovereignty related to its North Korea policy.”

In a radio interview, Rep. Song Young-gil of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said, “An Ambassador would be no different from a governor-general of a colonized country if we have to do what he or she tells us to do.”

DPK lawmaker Sul Hoon said on a separate occasion that he finds Harris' comments “extremely regretful.”

“They can be seen as him meddling in domestic affairs and that it is not helpful for the South Korea-U.S. alliance at all,” Sul said.

A political analyst pointed out Harris was a career military officer and that he still has “a lot to catch up on” as a diplomat.

“The way he talks before the media has not been appropriate on many occasions,” Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University said.

The professor, however, assessed that Cheong Wa Dae's response was “too sensitive.”

“We don't necessarily have to expand the dispute to the government-level because it would only add to concerns over the alliance,” he said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul declined to comment on the presidential aide's remarks.