‘It is regrettable that there is disinformation on U.S. beef’

Posted on : 2008-05-14 14:34 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
[Interview] Alexander R. Vershbow, the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea
 the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea.
the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea.

This year, The Hankyoreh is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a series of articles and interviews in the print edition of the paper to commemorate the publication of its first issue on May 15, 1988. As a special addition to our online edition, Jang Jungsoo, The Hankyoreh’s the executive editor and the former editor of this website, met with Alexander R. Vershbow, the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, on May 7 in the ambassador’s office in Seoul.

Vershbow was appointed to his current post in October 2005, prior to which he served as the U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation from 2001-2005 and the U.S. ambassador to NATO from 1998-2001. He was at the end of the first year of his tenure in Seoul when North Korea conducted its first nuclear test and has been active in the six-party process on resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue. He was also part of negotiations on the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement.

In the interview, Vershbow discussed his views on the current situation with U.S. beef imports, the North Korean nuclear issue and ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. Vershbow will step down from his position in September, but remarked that he hopes to maintain his relationship with South Korea and stay involved in Northeast Asian affairs in the future.

Following is the full text of the interview.

Q. Korean society is engaged in a heated debate over the reopening of the Korean market to the U.S. beef. Many people even criticize the Korean government for giving up its quarantine sovereignty.

A. It is regrettable that disinformation about U.S. beef is spreading. The U.S. takes food safety very seriously, and we apply the same, very strict standards to products for the domestic market and to exports to other countries. Since mad cow disease was first discovered in the 1990s, the U.S has been making a lot of efforts to eliminate the disease. In particular, although not a single cow born after the animal feed ban was implemented in 1997 has developed BSE, (among Koreans) there is wrong information that U.S. cows have contracted mad cow disease. The U.S. not only banned the animal feed but also took additional steps by removing all SRM such as spinal cords even from cattle younger than 30 months.

Q. However, Koreans are criticizing the Korea-U.S. beef negotiation, pointing to: i) market reopening to beef from cattle older than 30 months; ii) the fact that, due to their unique dietary habits, Koreans eat bones and internal organs more than Americans; and iii) unless the OIE downgrades the U.S. in terms of mad cow disease risk, Korea cannot suspend imports even if mad cow disease is discovered in the U.S.

A. OIE is an independent organization and categorizes the U.S. as a controlled-risk country for mad cow disease. This means that, in terms of cattle production, there is nearly no risk of mad cow disease in the U.S., and in fact, in the U.S., not a single person has contracted the human form of mad cow disease by eating American beef. When we say T-bone steak or Kalbi made of American beef are safe, it is not just our judgment but the OIE's judgment. In addition to the multi-layered safety measures, Korean consumers have the option to pick and buy boneless beef. No one will force them to buy T-bone steaks.

Q. The beef issue was important in the Korea-U.S. FTA negotiations. The U.S. seemed to link the beef issue as a precondition to the conclusion of the FTA, but in fact, isn't it unlikely that the FTA will be approved during President Bush's term?

A. At the summit meeting with President Lee, President Bush pledged that he will make major efforts to get the FTA approved within his term. Agreement was reached that ratification of the Colombia-U.S. FTA, which was regarded as precondition to ratifying Korea-U.S. FTA, will not be linked together. With the beef issue resolved, the path is clear for getting bipartisan support from the Congress, so we hope that, ultimately, it will be ratified. The Korea-U.S. FTA is very important and could take bilateral relations to the next level; it would be as important as the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1953. The Korea-U.S FTA will set new standards in market liberalization, setting the global trend and posing new challenges to neighboring China and Japan to meet the same standards.

Q. Question on North Korea. The 6 Party Talks are at an important crossroads. But, as the U.S. mentions the possible cooperation between North Korea and Syria, there is a concern that the 6 Party Talks may get tangled with Middle East issues.

A. Several months ago, at a private meeting with the North Koreans, the U.S. said that we were aware of North Korea's assistance in the construction of a nuclear facilit in Syria. Since then, North Korea has said they acknowledge our concern, reaffirming that they will not be involved in transferring nuclear materials, technology and know-how to a third country in the future, in accordance with the existing agreement in the 6 Party Talks. Therefore, this issue is already being addressed within the framework of the 6 Party Talks, and we are now making efforts to build a comprehensive verification mechanism that can address plutonium issues as well as this issue.

Q. After Sung Kim's visit to North Korea, I want to know about the U.S. schedule for nuclear issues. When do you expect North Korea's declaration, U.S. removal of North Korea from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List and from the Trading with the Enemy Act to happen?

A. The U.S. and North Korea made some progress both at the meeting in Singapore and through Sung Kim's previous visit to North Korea, and I expect Sung Kim's recent visit will be the last high-level officials' meeting to realize the declaration envisaged by the October 3 agreement to implement the September 2005 Joint Statement. I don't think it is appropriate for me to predict the results of the visit.

Q. I want to ask you a question in a straightforward way. Won't it be difficult to normalize North Korea-U.S. ties within the term of President Bush? How much further progress do you expect during the remainder of his term?

A. It depends on North Korea's political will to implement the agreements in Phase 2 of the 6 Party Talks as soon as possible and to move on to Phase 3. We have already lost 4.5 to 5 months in completing on the process envisaged by the February 13 and October 3 agreements, but if North Korea is ready to agree to complete denuclearization, we are ready to go ahead with the normalization of North Korea-U.S. relations and the signing of a Peace Agreement. Of course, in implementing a comprehensive agreement, dismantling North Korea's nuclear facilities such as the Yongbyon facilities could take one year or more, up to two years, naturally going beyond President Bush's term.

Q. As for removing North Korea from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List, the Japanese government sees the resolution of Japanese abductees as a precondition. What is the U.S.'s view on this?

A. We share the concerns of the Japanese government and people, and we have pressed North Korea to address this issue. However, we do not see that as a precondition to removing North Korea from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List. We have been clear that the prerequisites for North Korea to be removed from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List are the provision of a complete and correct declaration and disablement of the Yongbyon nuclear facilities in accordance with October 3 agreement.

Q. Since the Lee Myung-bak administration was launched, inter-Korean relations have been going through a cooling-off period, as the President links the nuclear issue with inter-Korean economic projects. What kind of impact would this have on North Korea-U.S. relations?

A. It is regrettable that North Korea has made some insulting rhetorical statements toward South Korea's President. North Korea should admit the fact that the South Korean people elected a new President through a democratic election and that the President is taking a different approach to North Korea than in the past. I don't think this should have negative impact on the 6 Party Talks. However, we hope that inter-Korean cooperation projects can resume and go in parallel with the 6 Party process. Usually, when a new administration starts in South Korea, there has been an adjustment period (in inter-Korean relations), but I hope that such an adjustment period will not last too long this time.

Q. You worked as a diplomat for a long time in Russia and East European countries. In Europe, OSCE, a multilateral security organization, greatly contributed to regional integration and the prevention of conflict in the region. In the same vein, do you think it is possible for the 6 Party Talks to be developed into a similar multilateral security cooperation organization in Northeast Asia in the future?

A. Certainly. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte is coming to Korea to discuss these issues. A multilateral organization for security cooperation (in Northeast Asia) should try to deal not just with security but economic, environmental and other issues together, building peace and cooperation. If such an organization is established in Northeast Asia, i) it will help end North Korea's isolation, thereby improving regional stability, ii) it will facilitate trilateral cooperation among Korea, China and Japan, and iii) energy cooperation involving oil and gas in Eastern Russia and Sakhalin would be possible. The U.S. will willingly cooperate to establish a Northeast Asia multilateral security cooperation organization.

Q. Hankyoreh will mark its 20th anniversary on May 15th. Any message?

A. Let me offer my congratulations on Hankyoreh's 20th anniversary. I am deeply impressed by the role of the independent media in Korean society. The fact that there is a large readership including Hankyoreh in Korea shows the intelligence of the Korean people and their desire for knowledge, and also shows the quality and dedication of the journalists and editors at Korean newspapers. It is true that Hankyoreh and the U.S. government have had some disagreements on various issues, such as the alliance and the FTA, but at the same time, I believe there is a common denominator such as freedom and democracy between us. I expect Hankyoreh to report about major Korea-U.S issues in a balanced way, based on the facts, and hope you can devote more pages to alternative viewpoints.