Speeches and Transcripts
A FLEXIBLE AND DURABLE ALLIANCE
Remarks by
Alexander Vershbow
U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea
Catholic University of Korea
Bucheon, Korea
November 9, 2006
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Alexander Vershbow |
Thank you very much, to both President Reverend Lim Byeng-hun for receiving me here at Catholic University and to Professor Ma Sang-yoon for that kind introduction. I am honored to be invited to speak on the tenth anniversary of the founding of Catholic University of Korea’s School of International Studies. I have been married for thirty years, so I know well that in the American tradition each anniversary year has a designated gift. Many of the gifts are quite luxurious: silk for the fourth anniversary, china for the ninth, lace for the thirteenth and crystal for the fifteenth. Even though the tenth anniversary is a significant milestone, one should not expect to receive rare gems or precious metals. The traditional gift for a tenth anniversary is tin. Perhaps tin does not make for the most romantic gift, but symbolically, it is very important. Tin is one of the most malleable metals and the pliability of tin is a symbol of how a successful relationship needs to be flexible and durable.
This is a fitting thought as we begin this afternoon’s discussion on the U.S.-ROK alliance. I know there’s been a lot of ink spilt on how the alliance is in trouble, but my own firm conviction is that such a statement is gross exaggeration and quite misleading. True, the relationship between the United States and the Republic of Korea is changing, and the pace of this change is quite rapid. But this is not unusual. And it definitely does not mean that the relationship is weakening.
Since the 1950s, Korea has changed, the region has changed, the world has changed, and, there can be no doubt, there will be further changes in the future. If the U.S.-ROK relationship were rigid and one-dimensional, we could expect problems in adjusting to the evolution of world events. The relationship, however, is based on varied and diverse ties, including a strong military partnership, growing personal ties, robust trade links and, most of all, our shared values of democracy, human rights and freedom. These multiple commonalities keep the alliance dynamic and strong.
A Balanced Military Partnership
The military relationship, initially formed on the basis of a common concern over the North Korean threat, remains a fundamental pillar of the alliance. There should be no uncertainty about this: the United States’ commitment to defend South Korea is unyielding. In the 38th ROK-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting held in Washington last month, our two nations’ top defense and foreign affairs officials affirmed that the alliance remains vital to the future interests of the two countries. A solid, combined defense posture should be maintained in order to secure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. The capabilities of the ROK-U.S. combined forces remain at peak readiness, and the alliance – including the U.S. military presence in Korea – continues to ensure security on the Peninsula and, therefore, stability in Northeast Asia.
The nature of the U.S.-ROK military relationship, however, is flexible and changing with the times. In the year 2000 (and, indeed, for the past three decades) there were over 37,000 American troops stationed in Korea. They were deployed in numbers and formations consistent with the threats and strategic capabilities not of the 21st century, but of the 1950s. For a number of years we have been working with our South Korean counterparts to take into account the increasing capabilities of the ROK’s military forces, enhanced military technology, and the ability of U.S. forces to apply immediate and overwhelming military force from greater and greater distances.
These discussions have resulted in a number of adjustments. For example, in these few years, we have reduced troop numbers from around 37,000 to 30,000, and are on track to reduce troop numbers to about 25,000 by the end of 2008. We have closed military bases all over the Peninsula and are well on the way to giving Yongsan Garrison back to the Korean people. I’m told that if Yongsan Garrison is turned into a park, it would become the largest urban park in Northeast Asia. Central Seoul’s serene Cheongyechon is just the beginning. Your capital city will be known not just for its spectacular industrial growth and urbanization, but also for its trees, flowers and greenspace.
In addition to the change in numbers, our defense ministers met a few weeks ago and made important decisions on the transfer of wartime operational control from today’s Combined Forces Command to the ROK in the coming years. This is an important demonstration of the fact that our alliance is becoming a more balanced partnership. By sharing responsibility more evenly, the alliance will be much stronger and politically more sustainable for the long term.
In addition, our security relationship is expanding beyond the confines of Korea’s borders. Koreans have actively participated alongside Americans in UN peacekeeping missions around the world and Korea has been a reliable partner in the war on terror. The Republic of Korea is the third-largest coalition partner in Iraq and is considering a significant role in Lebanon. We appreciate these growing opportunities to work with our Korean defense counterparts not just on the Peninsula, but throughout the world.
Personal Ties
Of course, our growing ties do not consist solely of men and women in uniform. In ever increasing numbers South Koreans are traveling for work, study or leisure to the United States. Koreans, in fact, make up the largest group of foreign students in the United States. More and more Koreans have relatives in the United States whom they want to visit -- the Korean-American population now tops two million. Everyday, scores of 할머니 (“halmeoni” [grandmother]) and 할아버지 (“harabeoji” [grandfather]) line up to apply for visas so that they can visit their grandchildren. Our Embassy is on track to process 480,000 visas this year, which makes Seoul the busiest visa-processing post in the world.
Despite our acclaim as one of the busiest visa-processing posts in the world, we are trying hard to lose that status, but not because we don’t want Korean visitors. By all means, we want 할머니 (“halmeoni”) and 할아버지 (“harabeoji”) to attend their grandson’s 백