Could North Korea's Nuke Test Threaten the U.N. Front-runner?

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've been frustrated by the negative perception that our relationships with Japan and the U.S. have not been smooth, although I believe we've developed a very close relationship with China and Russia. With the U.S, we've been maintaining an excellent relationship during the last fifty years; I think our relationship is still very sound and healthy. People only have negative perceptions at this time. People should understand we are going through a very important transformation period, a realignment in our relationship. This transformation or realignment comes from both countries, the U.S. and South Korea. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. has been realigning all their global forces, as part of a Global Posture Review, known as a GPR. That has affected Korea too, and we have agreed to it; it does not undermine the security situation on the Korean peninsula. We've agreed to allow strategic flexibility, while we made it quite clear the Korean government would not like to be involved in any regional conflict where South Korean people and government would not want regional conflict. We've agreed to partial withdrawal of American forces and we've agreed to the relocation of all American bases into two major hubs. These have been all important changes. Considering South Korea's political and democratic maturity and economic development, we really want to have a more mutually beneficial relationship between the U.S. and South Korea. But I think people have had different feelings during this important process, which has caused certain negative perceptions.

In the case of Japan, this is mainly because of the insincere Japanese attitude toward past history issues. Japan occupied Korea for 35 years. South Korean people — all Korean people — can never forget this. Our leadership has agreed that we should work toward a future-oriented relationship regardless of what happened in the past. But repeated visits by Prime Minister Koizumi to the Yasukuni Shrine, where 14 Class-A war criminals are honored, are disrespectful to South Koreans and other East Asian countries suppressed and oppressed by Japanese colonialism. They should have cared much more, should have been more thoughtful of neighboring countries. They should have been able to gain the trust and confidence of neighboring countries. This is the main reason why it's unfair for any responsibility to be levied on South Korea for the strained relationship between Korea and Japan. We are ready to have a committed and improved relationship with Japan. We're looking forward to this summit meeting, which will be held next Monday.

Why do you want to be Secretary General?
Personally and officially, Korean people have a longstanding faith in the United Nations. If you look at the special ties Korea has had with the United Nations since independence, you'll easily understand what kind of attachment the Korean people have. Now, as a fully democratic, politically mature and economically developed [country], Korea wants to do more for the U.N. That's why my government has nominated me as a candidate. I'm a career diplomat who has served our country and the international community for the last 37 years. I'm very much committed.