US envoy calls for end to NK brinkmanship

United States Ambassador to Seoul Sung Kim urged North Korea’s new leadership Thursday to shift its policies and enhance the lives of its people.

“The new leadership of North Korea can move into the 21st century by educating its people, opening up its economy and allowing the talents of the North Korean people to be realized,” said Kim in a speech.

“We will continue to work very closely with the Republic of Korea to achieve this goal.” His statement comes amid tension on the Korean peninsula following a failed rocket launch by the North on April 13.

Satellite images show that Pyongyang is constructing a new rocket assembly building to upgrade its launch capabilities.

The possibility of a nuclear test by the Stalinist regime remains another threat to the region’s security.

Pyongyang is currently adjusting to a power transfer from former leader Kim Jong-il, who died of a heart attack last December, to his inexperienced son, Kim Jong-un, who is in his late twenties. Kim Jong-un’s leadership is now being tested by the international community.

Ambassador Kim made the speech at a forum hosted by Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC), a Christian radio station that sends out missionary programs to foreign countries including the North, at the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul.

“Bad decisions (made by North Korea) led to the terrible situation that we see today,” Kim said. “I think the saddest part of this episode is that by going through with the launch, North Korea prevented us from proceeding with a humanitarian assistance package for its people.”

After the contentious rocket launch, Washington scrapped a food aid shipment to the North. Under a bilateral agreement made on Feb. 29, also known as Leap Day Agreement accord, Pyongyang promised to suspend nuclear tests, missile launches and enrichment of uranium in exchange for 240,000 tons of nutritional aid.

Kim underscored that Washington has been very clear in its stance that in order to engage with the U.S., North Korea should refrain from any provocations

In addition, the U.S. envoy also stressed the importance of the military alliance between the U.S. and South Korea.

“The (Korea-U.S.) military partnership is not the only cornerstone of our foreign policy on the Korean peninsula, but is in fact a core pillar in our foreign policy across the whole region (Asia Pacific),” said Kim.

Kim made assurances that Washington and Seoul will have the closest relationship during his tenure.

Kim took up his post last October and received attention for being the first ethnic Korean U.S. ambassador to Korea. Before taking the position he served as U.S. special envoy for the six-party talks.

The speech was given under the title, “U.S.-Korea relations in 2012 and beyond.” <Korea Times/Chung Min-uck>

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