Friction in U.S.-South Korea ties

Friction in U.S.-South Korea ties

The chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on International Relations, Henry Hyde, has said that if South Korea expects military assistance from the United States, it should clearly state who its enemy is.

Hyde's strong remarks came during a hearing dealing with the North Korean nuclear crisis. He said that the omission of the term "main enemy" from the South Korean Defense Ministry's most recent white paper - the designation that had usually been applied to North Korea before - left in doubt the main reason for the U.S.-South Korea alliance.

Our government needs to make it clear that we do not pursue an unconditional engagement policy with the North, but one with strategic flexibility. There is a strong possibility that the longer the nuclear crisis is prolonged, the more voices like Hyde's will emerge. -- JoongAng Daily, Seoul