U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense David Shear said Wednesday that late former South Korean President Kim Young-sam contributed greatly to the alliance between the two countries.
Shear made the remark after offering a flower and holding a moment of silence before a black-draped, chrysanthemum-framed portrait of the former president on a memorial altar set up at the South Korean Embassy in Washington.
"I'm here today to convey my condolences on the passing of former President Kim Young-sam. He made great contributions to his country both in opposition and in government as well as to strengthening of the U.S.-Korean alliance," Shear said.
"He will be in our memories. Again, our deepest sympathy to the Korean people and to the family of former President Kim," he said.
Later in the day, Amb. Tom Shannon, the nominee to be the next under secretary of state for political affairs, also visited the embassy and paid his respects.
Shannon said he came to pay "respect for President Kim and for what he did, not only for Korea to help build a democratic, peaceful and prosperous Korea, but also what he did for the relationship between Korea and the United States."
The diplomat also said Kim helped build "a relationship that was based not only on common interests, but on common values and on a common vision of what our partnership could mean in Asia and in the Pacific."
Asked if he has any special memories of the late leader, Shannon said he remembers Kim's relationship with then U.S. President Bill Clinton as being "a special bond that helped create a special understanding between our two peoples and laid out a pathway for our relationship that both countries have been able to hew to in a way that's been for the benefit of all of our peoples." (Yonhap)