[USFK Forums] President Roh denies advocating anti-U.S., pro-N. Korean policies

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Tuesday, March 28, 2006

(LEAD) President Roh denies advocating anti-U.S., pro-N. Korean policies

2006/03/28 09:42
By Yoo Cheong-mo

SEOUL, March 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said on Tuesday that he and his government have been wrongly characterized as an advocate of anti-U.S. and pro-North Korean policies.

The president said he will continue to pursue friendly relations with the United States, particularly for the sake of South Korea's economy and security.

"Some allege I'm an anti-American, pro-North Korean leftist. But that is not true," Roh said in a special speech to local business leaders at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tuesday morning.

"Relations between South Korea and the U.S. have to be smooth. There could be some bilateral conflict over several issues, including transfer of wartime operational command and the relocation of U.S. military bases in the center of Seoul, but we will never break with the U.S."

Roh emphasized he would prefer not to come into conflict with the U.S. in the future.

"If I were not a president, I would have opposed South Korea's troop dispatch to Iraq. As president, however, I agreed to the Iraqi dispatch, though we cut the number of dispatched troops from the U.S.-demanded level of 10,000 to 3,000."
Recalling his days as a president-elect in 2003, Roh said he delivered a strong antiwar message to the U.S. and remains opposed to a war on the Korean Peninsula.

"In 2003, the U.S. hinted at the possibility of its use of military force against North Korea, but I raised a strong objection to the American stance," he said.

"I had the dissenting voice because of my wish to contribute to the market and economic stability in South Korea. There will be no war on the peninsula as long as South Korea is opposed to it."

During his 90-minute lecture, the president also reiterated his commitment to resolving a number of the nation's chronic socioeconomic problems, such polarization, youth unemployment and Seoul's population concentration, among others.

"I came here as part of my efforts for smoother communications with people, specifically businesspeople. We are stepping closer to an advanced society," he said, citing the cleaner political and business climate in South Korea since his inauguration.

But he also expressed some dissatisfaction at the way local media have reported his remarks in public dialogues and appearances.

ycm@yna.co.kr


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