I’ve worked on North Korea issues for a long time including the past three years as the Special Envoy for the Six-Party Talks. So, as excited as I was about coming to Seoul as Ambassador, I admit that I was a little bit worried about who would take my and Ambassador Bosworth’s positions and handle this important portfolio. But, it turns out I had no reason to be concerned: the two gentlemen who now handle these issues are two of the finest diplomats in the Foreign Service.
Special Representative Glyn Davies meets Ambassador Lim Sung-nam at MOFAT.
Ambassador Glyn Davies, the new Special Representative for North Korea Policy, and Ford Hart, who replaced me as the Special Envoy for the Six-Party Talks, visited Seoul last week. I’ve known them both for several years, and I have great respect for their diplomatic skills, integrity, and dedication. They were accompanied by NSC Director for Korea Sydney Seiler, one of the U.S. Government’s most experienced Korea experts. I am confident that the new team will do the very best job possible – not just in terms of developing and implementing good policy, but also in terms of coordinating closely with the ROK. I continue to believe that in anything we do with North Korea, what’s most important is close coordination between Washington and Seoul.
It was great to see my old friend Glyn Davies in Korea!
But Glyn and Ford weren’t my only friends in town this week. My friend and Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma, Ambassador Derek Mitchell was in Seoul as well. As you know, Secretary Clinton just completed a visit to Burma. The Secretary undertook this important initiative because Burma showed interest in reform and took some concrete steps towards democracy. The historic visit could open the door to a new level of engagement with Burma and its people.
Let’s hope we see more progress -- both in Burma and here on the Korean Peninsula.
첫댓글 성김 대사님 환영합니다. 같은 한민족이셔서 한-미간의 역할을 기대합니다.
성김 대사님도 물론 잘 하실 것이라 믿습니다.
그리고 위에 언급하신 훌륭한 동료분들과 팀으로서 열심히 임하시겠다는 각오로 이해됩니다.
심은경 누님은 한국에 대해 너무 관심과 애정이 많으셨기에 우리의 기대가 더 클 것이겠지만 성김 대사님도 애정이 크실 수 밖에 없다고 생각합니다.
한미간의 우애를 증진시켜나갑시다.
우리 민족의 핏줄로서 우리나라의 성김 주한 대사님으로 오신것을 대 환영하는 바입니다 . 옛날같으면 출세했다는 것입니다 . 한.미 공동이익을 위하여 힘쓰겠지만 특히 한국을 위하여 더욱 더 노력했으면 하는 심정이 간절하지만 대사님입장으로서는 미국의 이익을 위하여 대변하셔야 하는 어려움도 있겠지만 ......키신저의 균형외교가 현명하리라 생각됩니다 .