By Park Song-wu
Staff Reporter


The government is concealing its agreement with Washington on expanding the U.S. Forces Korea’s (USFK) role as a ``stabilizing force’’ in Northeast Asia, Rep. Roh Hoe-chan of the Democratic Labor Party claimed Friday, citing a classified document he recently obtained.

Roh argued that the envisioned plan of the U.S. forces stationed in South Korea to engage in regional conflicts, including disputes involving China and North Korea, would aggravate the political situation on and near the Korean peninsula.

The USFK has been considered a ``fixture’’ on the Korean peninsula since the 1950-53 Korean War.

The pro-union lawmaker said in a press release that the document was written by Seoul officials to prepare themselves for the fourth round of bilateral defense talks with Washington that took place in September 2003.

``In the document, our government expressed its support for the USFK’s role as a regional force,’’ Roh said. ``But it raised the necessity of a `low key’ attitude for a while because an announcement of such an agreement could bring about more losses than gains at the moment.’’

He cited some remarks by former chief South Korean negotiator Cha Young-koo, which were found in the shorthand records of the fourth Future of the Alliance (FOTA) meeting, as saying: ``The ROK-U.S. combined forces commander has the authority to decide the USFK’s coming and going on the peninsula, but I hope he will consult with his South Korean counterparts during the decision-making process.’’

Roh also asserted that, during their preparations for the eighth FOTA talks in May this year, Seoul officials set a strategy of demanding Washington round up the base relocation issues, involving the 2nd Infantry Division and the Yongsan garrison, before getting into full-scale negotiations on the USFK’s role as a ``stabilizing force’’ in order to reduce public opposition in South Korea.

The Defense Ministry disputed the claims by Roh, saying it has never discussed the matters with U.S. officials.

``In view of the significance of strategic flexibility of the U.S. forces, we hold the position that the two sides should discuss the issue after 2005,’’ Shin Hyun-don, a spokesman at the ministry, said.

Meanwhile, ministries related with the Seoul-Washington military talks are currently trying to find out the informants who gave Roh the second-degree intelligence, which is likely being prohibited from being made public due to diplomatic concerns.

im@koreatimes.co.kr