It is very regrettable that Lt. Gen. Charles C. Campbell, commanding general of the Eighth U.S. Army and USFK Chief of Staff, said at a sudden press conference on April 1 that in response to Korea's wanting to pay less of a share of the cost of keeping USFK in Korea, the USFK would be laying off 1,000 Korean employees. In terms of form that is a major diplomatic lack of courtesy and in terms of content it carries open displeasure with the Korean government. It is an arrogant disregard for the other side of the negotiations to avoid the official lines communication in the negotiation process and have a military official get publicly involved, when the negotiations about sharing the cost are not over yet. He clearly wants to "threaten" the Korean government at a time when US demands are not being accommodated.
The negotiations between the US and Korean governments on who pays how much of the burden takes place every year. It makes sense logically to want to reduce Korea's share by W60 billion compared to the previous year, since there will be different realities, including USFK troop reductions. If the USFK is going to get unreasonable like that, however, the meaning of the US-Korea alliance is inevitably going to suffer significantly.
The USFK is being reduced in accordance with US global strategies and if bases are going to be closed or merged Korea has to accept that the number of Koreans employed at US installations is going to decrease. But it is to be interpreted as an attempt to place the blame with the Korean government to say 1,000 Koreans are suddenly going to be laid off because Korea's share is shrinking. Furthermore the intention is to put the Korean government in a bad position by negatively influencing public opinion at the expense of security to have said that the USFK might also consider adjustments in the equipment and supplies the US has in Korea and the command and control equipment currently provided to the Korean military.
In our view the government must not tolerate this rude attitude on the part of the USFK or give in to such threats. Korea should begin by reflecting on its humble posture all this time as it is what has stood back and allowed a US military official be so disregardful of the process and express displeasure. Korea should issue a strong protest to the US to make sure it does not happen again. It is the wrong kind of thinking to suggest, as some are doing, that reducing Korea's share of defense expenditures has offended American sensibilities.
The Hankyoreh, 4 April 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Don't Tolerate USFK Rudeness |
