hankyoreh

South Korea’s President-elect Lee Myung-bak met with a group of current and former U.S. officials, including former U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry and former Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, in Seoul on January 4 to discuss the North Korean nuclear issue, the South Korea-U.S. alliance and North Korea’s human rights record.

Lee’s aides declined to give any details on the closed-door meeting with the Americans, all of whom have significantly influenced U.S. policy on the Korean Peninsula.

In addition, in the middle of next week Lee plans to name a group of envoys that will travel to the United States, Japan, China and Russia at some point in the future. The four countries, along with the two Koreas, are part of a six-party forum assembled to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.

Prior to the meeting, which was held at his office in Seoul, Lee said, “South Korea and the U.S. need close cooperation in order to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue and strengthen our alliance.” Lee’s remark was quoted by his spokesman, Joo Ho-young.

At the 90-minute meeting, Lee and the former officials were said to have discussed a wide range of subjects, including, among others, the North Korean nuclear issue, the South Korea-U.S. alliance, the Gaeseong (Kaesong) Industrial Complex and human rights in North Korea.
Joo said, “They exchanged personal experiences and views, but Lee was mainly there to listen. They agreed not to disclose the details of the discussion to the public.”

Among those attending the meeting were former U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry, former U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, former U.S. Congressman Steven Solaz, former chief U.S. nuclear negotiator Robert Gallucci, former Ambassador to Croatia Peter Galbraith and current U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Alexander Vershbow. Wolfowitz has influenced the U.S. Republican Party’s foreign policy, while Perry had a similar influence on the Democratic Party’s foreign policy.

Also in attendance were members of Lee’s transition team and advisers, including Rep. Chung Mong-joon, Rep. Park Jin, Yonsei University Professor Kim Woo-sang, Korea University Professor Nam Sung-wook, Sungkyunkwan University Professor Kim Tae-hyo and Kwon Jong-rak, one of Lee’s foreign affairs advisers.

“The meeting was arranged during Lee’s presidential election campaign, when the president-elect met Robert Scalapino (a professor of government and co-chair of the Center for Korean Studies at the University of California) and Steven Solaz (the former congressman) and promised to meet after being elected,” Joo said.

“On January 8 or 9, the transition team will name special envoys for the four nations (involved in the nuclear talks). The team will set the dates for their first visits following consultations with each country,” Joo added.

While Rep. Chung and Lee Sang-deuk, the vice speaker of the National Assembly, are said to be in line for the respective posts of chief envoy to the United States and Japan, Joo said, “We are not at the stage to comment because we need to consult with the countries themselves.” Asked if the team plans to send a special envoy to North Korea, Joo responded, “There is no such plan at this point.”


Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]