A little less conversation, a little more action

A group of 173 different organizations, including several former South Korean defense ministers and the Korea Retired Generals and Admirals Association, is planning a rally this Friday in downtown Seoul to protest the planned transfer of wartime operational control of Korean troops from the U.S. (A little background on what that means here.)

The opposition Grand National Party has called for hearings on the issue, and said it’s considering pushing for a no-confidence motion against Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung.

On the other side, an editorial in the left-wing paper Hankyoreh says that negotiations to turn-over wartime control should continue, and says allegations that the U.S. is planning to turn over command ahead of schedule as a way to pressure the government to meet certain demands of the U.S. forces [like a new air force bomber training ground] are “sad.”

There should be no mention of the justification for transferring wartime command. Aside from the need for stronger national identity by restoring military sovereignty, the existing integrated structure of the U.S.-Korean military alliance is unable to meet the security plans and military applications of the new security climate, in particular factors such as the change in the role of U.S. forces, increased military spending in China and Japan, and inter-Korean relations that seek to promote the cause of reunification.

But according to some, including this administration’s first ambassador to the U.S., actions by the Roh administration has irreparably damaged relations between the two countries and a withdrawal of U.S. troops is looking more likely.

Prof. Han Sung-joo of Korea University, who was the current administration’s first ambassador to Washington, has ascribed cracks in the Korea-U.S. alliance to “loudhailer diplomacy, a diplomatic taboo.” Han denounced the president for calling “reasonable” North Korea’s assertion that its needs nuclear arms and missiles as a deterrent, and slammed the unification minister’s claim that the U.S.’ North Korea policy “failed the most” when North Korea fired its missiles last month. “The U.S. pretended not to hear and smiled, but the barrage of barbed remarks built up,” the former ambassador said.

I’m not sure I understand what “loudhailer diplomacy” is, but it doesn’t sound good. That smoky haze on the horizon? It could be bridges burning.

Hat tip: The Lost Nomad