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Albright: U.S. troops to stay in South Korea for now

U.S. Secretary of State Albright spoke Friday with South Korean President Kim

Secretary of state meets with President Kim Dae-jung

June 24, 2000
Web posted at: 2:03 a.m. HKT (1803 GMT)

In this story: Albright: Not all issues resolved International concern Kim Jong Il described as jovial, knowledgeable RELATED STORIES, SITES

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- Arriving in Seoul on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright indicated that U.S. troops will remain on the Korean peninsula for the foreseeable future, despite warming relations between North and South Korea.

Albright made the statement after meeting with South Korean President Kim Dae-jung to learn more about his historic summit last week with North Korean President Kim Jong Il.

The apparent moves toward reconciliation between the two Koreas has called into question the need for the large U.S. military presence on the peninsula, there since the beginning of the Korean War in 1950.

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U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, R-North Carolina, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, suggested last week on CNN that the 50-year presence of the U.S. troops should be reconsidered.

Albright said discussions about withdrawal or reduction among the 37,000 U.S. troops stationed there "are not appropriate and premature."

Albright: Not all issues resolved

"While the summit was hopeful, not all the issues have been resolved," Albright said during a news conference with South Korean Foreign Minister Lee Joung-binn. The United States, she said, will not "put a timeline on our responsibility.

Lee echoed the need for a continuing U.S. presence on the peninsula, saying that, as the two Koreas "take charge" of their relationship, the support of their allies will play a "vital role" in maintaining peace.

"Even after the establishment of a peace regime on the Korean peninsula, the American forces will continue to play a role of guarantor of power and a stabilizing force in this part of the world," he said.

International concern

In August 1998, North Korea prompted international concern by test-firing a missile that soared over Japan, fueling support for a multibillion-dollar U.S. missile defense system based in Alaska, designed to shoot down incoming missiles.

But Kim Jong Il also has reached out to nations to establish diplomatic ties and has offered an invitation to Pope John Paul II to make a papal visit.

Russia's new President Vladimir Putin is also due to visit North Korea next month, emphasizing the former communist power's continued interest in a region whose treatment of its people, at least according to the U.S. human rights report for 1999, recalls some of the worst aspects of the Soviet Union.

Kim Jong Il described as jovial, knowledgeable

Albright arrived in Seoul from Beijing, where she said Chinese leaders painted a picture of Kim Jong Il as a jovial, knowledgeable figure but added, "I think everybody is a little careful not to make final judgment."

Albright was expected to resume dialogue about U.S. troops with South Korean officials when they meet next month at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ministerial meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.

North Korean Foreign Minister Kim Young Nam is expected to attend the event, and Albright would not rule out a possible meeting between the two.

"I meet with a lot of people," Albright said. "Stay tuned."

State Department Correspondent Andrea Koppel and The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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