By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter
Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday that the Obama administration will constantly consult with Seoul in dealing with North Korea.
The new U.S. administration would not act unilaterally, he said at a forum in Seoul.
Powell, a man who broke many barriers in his career, was in Seoul and spoke about a fellow American who perhaps broke the biggest barrier of them all this week.
The former U.S. secretary of state also paid a courtesy call on President Lee Myung-bak at Cheong Wa Dae before leaving Korea Friday night.
``Of interest to you and to the rest of the world is: What kind of policies will President-elect Obama choose? From what I know, I am confident that he will send messages to nations around the world, especially to South Korea, that the United States wants to work with you, wants to have open, honest, realistic dialogue with you,'' he said at the forum sponsored by the Korea Foundation.
He said that Obama is going to listen to what South Korea thinks. ``He wants to hear what your goals are. And based on how I have seen him operate, he will take those points of views into account.
``He will make sure that he is constantly in touch with the authorities here in Seoul and other members of the six-party framework. So that we are doing this as partners, not as individual countries pursuing their own particular interest,'' Powell said.
``We know how difficult it can be to negotiate with North Koreans. So we must remain steadfast. South Korea, the United States and other members of the six-party framework must remain steadfast until we have truly eliminated the nuclear potential within North Korea. I am confident that President-elect Obama will be committed to that proposition. And ultimately I think a diplomatic solution will be found.''
Powell said while President-elect Obama may have concerns about the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA), he will openly discuss it with Korean officials and try to find solutions that satisfy both sides.
``One of the issues he has to deal with and which he has spoken about, and which I know causes some concern here in Korea, has to do with the free trade agreement. I support the free trade agreement. We negotiated it after many, many months and years of discussions, debate and compromise.
`` Obama has said he has some concerns about the free trade agreement with Korea. And he wants to look at it, particularly with respect to automobiles,'' Powell said.
Just consider the kinds of problems the United States is having with the automobile industry and the parts of the country where the auto industry has traditionally been a major employer, including Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, he said.
These are places, he said, ``where unemployment is high. And those parts of the country are probably already in a recession. As the President of the United States, he has to respond to that kind of constituent interest.
``Senator Obama was elected by the American people. He wasn't elected by the people of South Korea or the people of Europe or anywhere else. And so first and foremost, he has to pursue the interest of the American people, the interest of the people who voted for him.''
Powell said he is confident that once Senator Obama takes office and begins to work with South Korea on security issues, he will want to address other issues, especially the FTA. ``He will want to listen. He will take into account everything that South Korea has to say on these matters. And, in the sprit of openness and candor, explain to the South Koreans what his concerns are.
``And because we are good friends ― two nations that have bonded together in time of war and are now both successful in time of peace ― I am sure that a solution will be arrived at, at some point. Maybe there won't even be any modification of the free trade agreement. I don't know. All I know is a new President is coming in, who will listen to South Korea and hopes, expects and knows that South Korea will listen to us as well.''