General Election Result Will Not Likely Change Korea-U.S. Alliance

General Election Result Will Not Likely Change Korea-U.S. Alliance. April. 16, 2004 20:43. by Seung-Ryun Kim srkim@donga.com.

On April 16, Goh Kun, prime minister, who is serving as South Korea’s acting president, discussed the Korea-United States relationship and the North Korean nuclear issue with Dick Cheney, U.S. Vice President, at the official residence of prime minister in Samchungdong, Chongro, Seoul.

Goh told Cheney, “Current diplomacy for security and basic political conditions, based on the market economy, will be not changed. We will strengthen the Korea-United States coalition, based on democracy and the market economy.”

Regarding recent reports about a Pakistani scientist witnessing a North Korean nuclear weapon, Cheney said, “We worry about the possibility of North Korea’s retainment of nuclear weapons.” He added, “As the possibility of this will be discussed during the six-party conference, please help us facilitate the six-party conference.” After expressing his appreciation about Korea’s impending troop deployment to Iraq four or five times, Cheney said, “Even if there is some controversy over the dispatch of troops, it is very important to build democracy in Iraq.” Cheney also asked for the lifting of import restrictions on U.S. beef, which had been implemented because of mad-cow disease fears and regulation over violations of U.S. intellectual property rights. Issuing a public statement at the U.S. military base in Yongsan, Cheney said, “We applause Korea’s courageous decision to protect freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan.”