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by Frank James
Most close observers of journalism know we journalists like a good disagreement. It makes a much more interesting story when people don't get along than when they do.
So at an event like an international economic summit attended by heads of government, which tend to be fairly predictable affairs with the required bland communiques and class photos of national leaders, a dustup like today's between President Bush and South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun makes reporters perk up.
As has been widely reported, the South Korean leader was particularly insistent that Bush declare the Korean War officially over. A truce was declared more than 50 years ago but hostilities haven't been declared officially over.
And Bush wasn't going to declare them over today, saying North Korea had to change its behavior, such as its nuclear activities, before that could happen.
At the very least, after the exchange between the two presidents a reporter no longer has to bang his or head against a wall as he or she tries to figure out what the story's lead is.
But today's misunderstanding between Bush and Roh fits the long pattern of the U.S.-South Korean relations which is one of the longest love-hate relationships in modern world history.
As stated in a recent paper edited by Brad Glosserman, executive director of the Pacific Forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the edginess between the governments of both nations is of long standing.
Tensions in the U.S.-ROK relationship are not new. The two countries’ alliance has survived repeated stresses and strains. President Jimmy Carter’s promise to reduce the U.S. force presence in South Korea in 1977 alarmed conservatives in both countries who feared the move would undermine deterrence and send the wrong signal to North Korea.
The kidnapping of dissident Kim Dae-jung in 1973 prompted harsh warnings to Seoul from the U.S. that his “disappearance” would do great damage to the alliance. The 1993 North Korean nuclear crisis raised fears in South Korea of a U.S. preemptive strike that would leave the peninsula in flames; the subsequent 1994 U.S.-North Korea Agreed Framework angered then ROK President Kim Young-sam who felt marginalized by its negotiating process.More recently, the coming to power of progressive leadership in Seoul, coupled with a conservative president in the U.S., has exacerbated tensions. The two governments disagree over the nature of the threat posed by Pyongyang, how to deal with its nuclear weapons program, the proper response to China’s growing presence in the region, and the appropriate balance of power within their alliance. Attempts to realign the U.S. military in South Korea are moving forward, but not without misgivings in both countries. Korean demands for more equality within the alliance – manifested most plainly in the call for the transfer of operational control of its forces during wartime to an ROK officer – are seen simultaneously as long-overdue shifts in responsibilities and the first steps toward U.S. abandonment of the alliance and undermining the deterrence of North Korea.
So today's face off between the two presidents may not represent a new low in U.S.-South Korean relations. But it's good television. And it sure makes coming up with the way to start the story a whole lot easier.
Comments
Hey Napanum. CHUNG CHI CHADI O. If you can, you were AWOL then, and your idealogy is AWOL Now.
Come on attempting to have a conversation with a Veteran who really wasn't a veteran regarding a war that he has no clue about is ridiculous and bad PR for American Presidents. Especially this one.
by the way I think i said in korean, Hey Bad Boy Get a Grip. If I remember correctly.
Well it doesn't appear our Commander In Chief the Yale Scholar is such a scholar after all. Why even ask him or even try to have a legit conversation of that nature.
Where is Condi? Henry Waxman is still looking for her. Do we even have a Secretary of State!
Posted by: Roger Morris | September 7, 2007 2:25 PM
Good post, Roger.
Well spoken ;o)
Posted by: John E | September 7, 2007 2:31 PM
The Korean War -- termed a "police action" by then President Truman -- did not end with any type of formal declaration, it ended with a "cease-fire." It doesn't take a war scholar to know that a cease-fire is not a definitive end to a war, only a cessation in hostilities. Or are we rewriting the dictionaries as well as history these days? All the more reason to bring our 30,000 troopers home from
South Korea and think twice about buying Hyundai cars.
Posted by: Douglas M. | September 7, 2007 2:45 PM
I thought Condi was his date Roger.
Seriously, Bush should be muzzled.
Posted by: nisleib | September 7, 2007 2:47 PM
Once again, good on President Bush. he's staying the course in Iraq and Afghanistan and staying the course in Korea..and getting results for the first time in 50 years. This may be the beginning of the end of the Korean War and President Bush has done it! I feel really fortunate to have a Commander and Chief with guts and staying power. The US with President Bush's leadership has made the world a much better place.
PS: Libya too!
Posted by: Ray Thompson | September 7, 2007 3:02 PM
Mental adolescents like Roger Morris are so pathetically grounded in absolute ignorance that they would let their party allegiance color their prosthetic ability to interpret events.
Connect the dots if your visual and mental dexterity will allow you. See Bush getting blindsided? Can you see Bush getting set-up? Now shake your tiny mental nerve network and see how well Bush handled the kamikaze attack. Observe, if your infantile mouth, brain,eyes and ears can hold still long enough to listen to how well Bush articulated the longstanding US position. Surprise!!!
Posted by: david massey | September 7, 2007 3:02 PM
As usual, Roh is a buffoon. Who else in their right mind would be an ADVOCATE for North Korea? The country is willingly living in the Stone Age forchrissakes. They need to implode, not be propped up by South Korea. Human rights violations alone are enough reason to shun that country. Stay the course, President Bush.
Posted by: Knickerbocker | September 7, 2007 3:25 PM
So Bush forces them to keep U.S. troops in their country?
No wonder they hate us.
Posted by: Bill | September 7, 2007 3:46 PM
Roger may have turned the ALL CAPS key off, but he is stuff is just as incoherent and delusional as usual. No wonder, John E. likes it.
Posted by: John D | September 7, 2007 3:46 PM
knickerbocker,
Why would you want to punish starving people? Hate their government but don't shun the people.
Posted by: janet | September 7, 2007 4:00 PM
JUST REMEMBER THAT THE US GOV'T, AS SUCH, IS IN FIRM CONTROL OF EVERY PERSON HERE, AND THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. AND REMEMBER THAT WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT. A SILENT AMERICAN IS A GOOD AMERICAN; JUST ASK ANY GOV'T OFFICIAL.
Posted by: Lee Larson | September 7, 2007 4:01 PM
They need to implode, not be propped up by South Korea. Human rights violations alone are enough reason to shun that country.
Posted by: Knickerbocker | September 7, 2007 3:25 PM
How can you complain about thier human right violations at the same time you advocate "shunning" a country where millions of people are starving to death?
Those are real people dying Knickerbocker, not an abstraction. Lives just as important and valuable as yours and mine.
Posted by: Tony | September 7, 2007 4:07 PM
IT IS NOT OUR WAR TO END. NORTH KOREA MOVED TO ERASE THE UNITED NATIONS DIVISION OF KOREA INTO NORTH AND SOUTH. MOSTLY AMERICANS WERE IN SOUTH KOREA BUT THE UN DECLARED A POLICE ACTION TO ARREST NORTH KOREAS THREAT TO WORLD PEACE. THE NATIONALIST STILL HELD THE
CHINESE SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT SO THE VOTE WAS EASY.
SO, MANY TROOPS BESIDES AMERICANS FOUGHT UNDER THE UN BANNER IN KOREA.INCLUDING GREEKS AND TURKS. THE UN MUST DECLARE THE POLICE ACTION ENDED
Posted by: FRED BASHARA | September 7, 2007 4:39 PM
Roger's "FORCE" must have multiplied since he hit his caps key.
Posted by: whatnow | September 7, 2007 5:34 PM
Roger may have turned the ALL CAPS key off, but he is stuff is just as incoherent and delusional as usual. No wonder, John E. likes it.
Posted by: John D | September 7, 2007 3:46 PM
FU John D.
Posted by: Free dumb Fry | September 7, 2007 7:24 PM
Oh "Free dumb Fry," er John E., there is one thing you do have right in that new little name of yours, the dumb part. Well, there is another too: the Fry. You are a little fry, fried in the head, and well a fry in other "parts" too.
Posted by: John D | September 7, 2007 8:37 PM
Posted by: John D | September 7, 2007 3:46 PM
Well, John D., at least you spelled "incoherent" correctly. While little prince idiot confuses Australia with Austria, APEC with OPEC, which I'm sure not only made Freud turn over in his grave, but laugh his ass off. Nothing like having the "Freudian Slip" proven correct once again. I'm sure Georgie is confused by the whole "to-may-to" or "to-mah-to" crises, but I'm sure he knows that "po-ta-to" eventually means "VODKA". The guy has looked and sounded drunk for months.
Roger may have turned the ALL CAPS key off, but he is stuff is just as incoherent and delusional as usual. No wonder, John E. likes it.
Posted by: John D | September 7, 2007 3:46 PM
No wonder you voted for georgie. You guys obviously skipped English class together.
Posted by: Mrs. Jesus | September 7, 2007 10:22 PM
You are a little fry, fried in the head, and well a fry in other "parts" too.
Posted by: John D | September 7, 2007 8:37 PM
FU John D, and rotate!
Posted by: Free dumb Fry | September 7, 2007 11:03 PM
Ahhh, there is nothing like the "intellectual" commentary from 'free dumb fry,' er John E. No wonder he must still live at home, off mummy and duddy and on the taxpayer's dime.
And Mrs. Satan, been attending too many wiccan meetings lately?
Posted by: John D | September 8, 2007 12:08 AM
Looks like the S Korean President needs a history lesson. The Korean War never ended with a Peace Treaty. Bush was right on in this matter. Your leftists who jeer at Bush need to get an education. Any education. Just get one that includes history. A knowledge of history is sorely lacking on the left.
I think the Koreans are just still sour about Apolo Anton Ohno at the Olympics in SLC.
Posted by: Chad | September 8, 2007 2:26 AM
Wow. Dumb and dumber, the reality show version. How bad must it be to live in a country whose leader is even more clueless than Bush?
Posted by: Nomo Stew | September 8, 2007 6:47 AM
Protesting by the Aussies. This is how the motorcade was met:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/protesters-moon-apec-motorcade/2007/09/07/1188783480075.html
Posted by: lochnessmonster | September 8, 2007 6:48 AM
The Korean War ended in an armistice on July 27, 1953. The following is a link to images of the actual document:
http://www.historicaldocuments.com/KoreanWarArmistice.htm
Posted by: Doug Zook | September 8, 2007 11:08 AM
Do we even have a Secretary of State!
Posted by: Roger Morris | September 7, 2007 2:25 PM
Well put. She's most likely kissing the butt of big oil as usual.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/08/business/08chevron.html?ex=1336276800&en=1db1129a4663d9a6&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
This one's for fun!!!
http://www.freakingnews.com/rice-pictures.asp
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | September 8, 2007 10:06 PM