Q. While the ROK-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will come into force on July
1, the ROK-U.S. FTA is still awaiting approval from the U.S. Congress. Could
you tell us about the prospects for Congressional approval of the deal?
"It was such a significant issue that even
President Barack Obama mentioned the trade deal during his State of the Union
address in January, and he also called on Congress to ratify it ‘as soon as
possible.' Therefore, you will likely see in the coming weeks the
submission of the legislation to Congress, and I expect that it will pass
through both the House and the Senate after a robust discussion of it. I
think that with the Administration and many stakeholders in the United States
from business to workers to individual states and communities saying how
important this is for the American economy and for Korea-U.S. relations, I'm very
optimistic about the ratification process."
Q. The Six-Party Talks aimed at resolving the
North Korean nuclear issue have been at a stalemate for more than two years. Some
officials, such as Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry,
argue that the United States should have bilateral dialogue with the North to
smooth the way for the resumption of the [Six-Party] Talks. What do you
think we need now to resume the stalled Six-Party Talks?
"U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian
and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and U.S. Special Representative for North
Korea Policy Stephen Bosworth already mentioned this issue in details at a
Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the North Korean issue yesterday
(March 1). We all agree that it is very important to improve inter-Korean
relations, and we also understand that when we verify that the North truly
wants to see a tangible improvement in its relations with the ROK, we should be
ready to accept bilateral and multilateral dialogue."
Q. Regarding Mr. Bosworth's mention about food aid
to the North, some observers speculate that there will be some change in the
stalled U.S.-North Korea relations.
"(Shaking her head) The U.S. approach on the
provision of humanitarian assistance including food assistance internationally
has always been a principled one based upon an assessment of the need and the
ability to monitor in an appropriate way to ensure the assistance gets to those
who are most needy. We are applying those same principles to any
consideration of humanitarian assistance to North Korea, and therefore, he
[Amb. Bosworth] did not indicate any particular change."
Q. The "Jasmine Revolution" is sweeping the Middle
East. Considering the lack of social networking services and a different
type of regime in North Korea, it may be difficult to draw a direct comparison
[between the Middle East and North Korea,] but do you think that the
pro-democracy movements in the Middle East could affect North Korea?
"To be honest with you, I do not know. It is
difficult to speculate on it because North Korea is certainly one of the most
isolated places in the world when it comes to the availability of news about
the outside world."
Q. While the ROK-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will come into force on July
1, the ROK-U.S. FTA is still awaiting approval from the U.S. Congress. Could
you tell us about the prospects for Congressional approval of the deal?
"It was such a significant issue that even
President Barack Obama mentioned the trade deal during his State of the Union
address in January, and he also called on Congress to ratify it ‘as soon as
possible.' Therefore, you will likely see in the coming weeks the
submission of the legislation to Congress, and I expect that it will pass
through both the House and the Senate after a robust discussion of it. I
think that with the Administration and many stakeholders in the United States
from business to workers to individual states and communities saying how
important this is for the American economy and for Korea-U.S. relations, I'm very
optimistic about the ratification process."
Q. Recently, the issue of redeploying U.S.
tactical nuclear weapons to the ROK in the event of a contingency on the Korean
Peninsula stirred up some controversy. Some observers also point out that it is
possible for the United States to assist the ROK with tactical nuclear weapons
as part of its extended deterrence. If the ROK wants, is there a
possibility that the United States will redeploy its tactical nuclear weapons
to USFK?
"Our position is very clear on this, and we
reaffirmed it at a Senate hearing yesterday (March 1). We want to see the
complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. That means no nuclear
weapons in North Korea. There are no nuclear weapons right now in South
Korea. In terms of the ROK, it's our assessment that the reintroduction of
these weapons is neither desirable nor needed."
Q. President Obama, in his speeches, praised the
ROK especially for its education. In the ROK, however, many people point
out that the education problem is very serious. What is your take on this?
"So many Koreans talked about it. Those who
are currently living in the ROK or those who have been watching the ROK's
education system may know that education is such an important issue for
Koreans. Personally, I am also well aware of (Koreans') education fervor
as well as the stress incurred by children and families due to excessive
[education-related] competition.
President Obama seems to think that every
education system has some problems, and he appears to want to introduce Korea's
education fervor and parents' active interest in education to the United
States. In my opinion, President Obama believes that in this aspect, the
ROK is a good model.
However, as everybody knows it, there is no such
thing as a perfect education system. Therefore, while the United States
learns education fervor from the ROK's education system, the ROK could learn a
wider variety of teaching methods from the United States."
Q. Would you raise your child in a Korean-style
education system?
"Since my son has already grown up, I can only give
you a hypothetical answer. The biggest challenge would be language, but I
can say 'Yes.' This is because I know that the ROK also has many good
schools and teachers. However, when it comes to sending my child to ‘hagwon,' a private institute, I would
need to discuss with Korean parents, teachers and friends."
Q. Could you tell us about U.S.-ROK
relations and public sentiments in both countries now and at the time of your
assignment to the ROK? When you arrived in the ROK, U.S. beef imports were
a "big issue."
"The ROK and the United States have a very
friendly alliance, and they are deepening and expanding it day by day. In
addition, I think that I am lucky that I have served in the ROK at a time when
I can contribute to creating the best and strongest relationship in the world.
When I arrived in the ROK in September, 2008, I
received a truly warm welcome from the ROK—although it is a Korean tradition. When
I went out on the streets, many people, who had concerns or expectations about
ROK-U.S. relations, recognized and approached me and said that they wanted to
see an improvement in ROK-U.S. relations. This is a message showing that
the ROK-U.S. relations are very important, and we are actually working together
to maintain a good relationship.
Even President Obama said that (the bilateral
relationship) ‘has never been better than it is today.' (A fluent Korean
speaker, Stephens repeated the same phrase in Korean.)"
Q. Unlike other U.S. Ambassadors to the ROK, you
travel across the ROK to reach out to Koreans, even gaining the nickname "Star
Ambassador." Is there any special reason?
"Thank you very much for appreciating my efforts. Whenever
I am assigned to a certain nation, I think that I must understand the nation
and its people because that is what a diplomat and an Ambassador is supposed to
do. To me, Korea this may have been a little easier than it was for my
predecessors. This is because I lived in the ROK before, I speak Korean,
and I feel comfortable with Korean culture.
I visited the ROK in 1975 for the first time, and
I wanted to know how much the ROK and Koreans' thought have changed ever since,
and I watched actual changes with interest.
Q. This might be a little premature, but you
are going to leave office in six months. Do you have any future plans? Are you going to continue to work to strengthen ROK-U.S. relations?
"(Laughter) This is my third time to live in the
ROK. It is a great honor to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the ROK. In
my third year in office, I still have many things to do, including the ROK-U.S.
FTA, but after leaving office, I hope to continue to make contributions to this
great (U.S.-Korea) relationship for the rest of my life. In fact, I do not know
what to do after leaving office, but I will always carry a huge interest in and
commitment to this relationship."
Q. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the foundation
of the Peace Corps. You actually worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in the
ROK. What does the Peace Corps mean for you? How did your service in
the ROK affect you today?
"Thank you for asking that question. The
Peace Corps is still engaging in various activities around the world, and I
think that it is the best program ever from the United States Government. I
can say that this program has inspired the United States and people around the
world throughout many generations.
It is true that while serving in the ROK as a
Peace Corps member, I underwent a series of difficulties which I had never
experienced before. It was not easy for a young woman to adapt to living
and working in a nation which she hardly knew.
At that time, I needed to completely assimilate
into a Korean organization. I serve in many countries as a diplomat, but
it is about working at a U.S. Embassy, a U.S. institution. Therefore, it
is difficult to compare it with Peace Corps activities. I think that at
that time, I had experience which was totally new mentally, physically, and
emotionally. However, any Peace Corps member has such experience.
[Through such experience,] I witnessed the
strength and various talents of Koreans in person, and that has had an enormous
impact on my life.
Translation by Yonhap News. Republished with permission.
