[USFK Forums] Lawmaker to File Suit Over US Troops Realignment [Korea Times]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Saturday, March 19, 2006

Lawmaker to File Suit Over US Troop Realignment

The Korea Times

SEOUL, March 17 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean opposition lawmaker said Friday he will file a lawsuit against President Roh Moo-hyun and his top officials over the government's recognition of the ``strategic flexibility’’ of U.S. troops here.

In January, the foreign ministers of South Korea and the U.S. agreed that they would ``understand and respect’’ Washington’s plan to realign its forces in South Korea and expand their role and responsibilities beyond the peninsula.

Critics quickly accused the South Korean government of failing to obtain parliamentary ratification for the accord, which could only be made after revising a defense treaty with Washington. The treaty is primarily focused on deterring North Korean aggression.

``President Roh and Foreign Minister Ban (Ki-moon) were aware that the introduction of the U.S. strategic flexibility was a matter requiring parliamentary ratification but they forcefully pushed for negotiations and agreements,’’ said Roh Hoe-chan, a lawmaker with the progressive Democratic Labor Party.

Such an act violates the Constitutional rights of legislators to sign, ratify and vote on treaties, Roh said. The lawmaker said he will file the suit with the Constitutional Court on Monday. The Foreign Ministry has said the accord on U.S. strategic flexibility does not contravene the bilateral defense treaty, as it is just a ``political document.’’

The ministry also said it won a U.S. promise to oppose South Korea's involvement in any unwanted regional conflicts due to the U.S. strategy.


03-17-2006 21:51

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