[Editorial] Inappropriate Comments from U.S. Ambassador

Speaking at a special gathering of the Kwanhun Club, U.S. ambassador to Korea Alexander Vershbow called North Korea a "criminal regime." Specifically he cited drug trafficking and counterfeiting. It was a hard-line statement not used frequently by high-ranking U.S. government officials and even neocons hostile to the six-party process.

To begin with, we would like to ask if the definition "criminal regime" is the official position of the Bush Administration. If it has had a change of perception and policy towards North Korea then it needs to clearly state what its reasons and goals are. The U.S. government has called the North a "rouge state" and a "terrorism-sponsoring nation," but so far never a "criminal regime."

One would like to know whether there is ample evidence. If the U.S. wants to play the role of prosecutor indicting the North Korean regime for criminal activity it needs to show the world some convincing, genuine evidence. Three years ago it alleged that the North was developing nuclear capabilities using highly enriched uranium (HEU) and aggravated the situation at the time, but it has still yet to produce the evidence. It will not be able to win the understanding of the international community if it will be calling the North a criminal regime in order to rationalize the financial sanctions.

The problem is the negative influence the comment could have on the six-party talks. Vershbow said those issues were separate from the talks, but they cannot be separate when the mutual distrust the U.S. and the North share for each other is as serious as it is now. Having said what he did while knowing the situation you wonder if perhaps the intention is to prevent the talks from making progress. He also said he "doubts" whether a light water reactor (LWD) is the most rational solution to North Korea's energy needs, making it look as if he wants to disown the joint statement that came out of the last round of talks in Beijing on September 19.

Even without this it has been difficult to set a date to continue the second phase of the fifth round of six-party talks. That being the situation, it is inappropriate and dangerous for the American ambassador to directly criticize a party that is being negotiated with as soon as he assumes his post. We hope to see ambassador Vershbow behave in a manner becoming of a diplomat.

The Hankyoreh, 8 December 2005.

[Translations by Seoul Selection]