Someplace Else: The Tragedy of Korean-American Relations

Abstract

In his State of the Union address on 29 January 2002, President George W. Bush declared that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) was part of an “Axis of Evil” that also included Iran and Iraq. He condemned North Korea’s government for arming itself with “missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens.” These remarks infuriated many political leaders and average citizens in the Republic of Korea (ROK) because Bush’s public statement of hostility toward North Korea contradicted South Korean president Kim Dae-jung’s engagement approach toward the DPRK. Kim’s pursuit of this “Sunshine Policy” with North Korea had led to his visit to Pyongyang in June 2000 and resulted in his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize. The Clinton administration had supported Kim’s efforts, but Bush reversed this policy within weeks after assuming the presidency. North Korea, the new president argued, could not be trusted because it was not fulfilling its agreements. His reference apparently was to the Agreed Framework that former president Jimmy Carter had negotiated in 1994, providing for Pyongyang to halt its missile program in return for funding to build nuclear-powered electricity plants that did not produce weapons-grade waste. Contrary to Bush’s claim, all available evidence indicated North Korea’s compliance with its terms.