Text Fwd:[Translation] [SPARK] Commentary to Denounce the ROK-US Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting

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* The below is the arbitrary translation of the Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea (SPARK) commentary on July 22, 2010, right after the joint statement of the ROK-US foreign and defense ministers' meeting on July 21, 2010. The original SPARK Korean site can be seen HERE.
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한·미 외교·국방장관회의 규탄 논평
Commentary to Denounce
the ROK-US Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting

침략적 한미동맹 영구화하는 ‘한·미 외교·국방장관회의’ 규탄한다!
We denounce the ROK-US Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting
that makes the invasive ROK-US alliance perpetual!

By the Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea (SPARK)

1. 아프간 전투병 파병 등 침략적 한미동맹 실행하는 ‘한미 외교·국방장관회의’ 규탄한다!

1. We denounce the ROK-US Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting that carries on the invasive ROK-US alliance, such as the dispatch of the combat troops to Afghanistan!

한미양국의 외교·국방장관회의(‘2+2회의’)가 21일 서울에서 열려 ‘6·25전쟁 발발 60주년 계기 한미 외교·국방장관회의 공동성명'을 발표했다.

In the ROK-US Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting of the both countries of the Republic of Korea and United States (so called ‘2+ 2 meeting’) that was held in Seoul on [July] 21st, [the ministers] announced the 'Joint Statement of ROK-US Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting-On the Occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Outbreak of the Korean War.'

양측은 2009년 6월 한미정상이 채택한 한미동맹 공동비전에 의거하여 “동맹협력을 양자적·지역적·범세계적으로 계속 발전시키기로 했다.” 양측은 지역 및 범세계적 도전에 대하여 동맹협력의 폭과 깊이를 확대하겠다는 의지를 반복해서 강조하고 있다.

The both sides saying that they “pledged to continue to advance alliance cooperation bilaterally, regionally, and globally,” based on the Joint Vision for the Alliance of the Republic of Korea and the United States that had been adapted by the summits of the ROK and United States in June, 2009, is emphasizing their will to extend the scope and depth of the alliance cooperation against the regional and global challenges to them.

이는 2009년 6월 한미정상이 채택한 ‘한미동맹 공동비전’에서 천명된 ‘포괄적 전략동맹’에 따른 것이다. ‘포괄적 전략동맹’은 미국이 한반도 및 동북아시아지역 나아가 범세계적 범주에서 자신의 세계패권 실현의 도구로서 동맹국 한국을 이용하고자 하는 전략적 필요에 따라 추진되는 것이다. 미국은 동맹의 위계적 질서에서 한국의 지위를 높여 한국의 전략적 자원을 더 많이 영구적으로 동원하고, 대신 한국은 미국 지배의 위계질서 내의 지위상승을 통해 대외적 지위 상승을 꾀하려는 것이다.

It is to follow the ‘comprehensive strategic alliance,’ declared in the ‘Joint Vision for the Alliance of the Republic of Korea and the United States’ that the two summits of the ROK and U. S. adapted in June 2009. The ‘comprehensive strategic alliance,’ is being driven according to the strategic need of the United States who is to utilize the ROK, the alliance nation, as the tool for the realization of her global dominance in the scope of the Korean peninsula & Northeast Asia region, and further, of the globe. It is for the United States to mobilize more of the strategic resource in the ROK, by heightening the status of the ROK in the rank system of her alliance, while it is for the ROK to attempt the rise of her status in the external relationships through her rise of the status within the rank system of the U. S. dominance.

* To see the JOINT VISION FOR THE ALLIANCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (Washington, D.C., June 16, 2009), click HERE.


공동성명에는 테러리즘, 대량파괴무기 확산 문제 등이 포함되어 있다. 한국측은 아프간에 대한 치안·거버넌스·개발 지원 의지를 밝혔다. 이에 따라 아프간 ‘치안’을 명분으로 한국군 전투병 파병이 추진될 것으로 보인다. 또한 대량살상무기확산방지구상(PSI)에 따른 훈련이 추진되고, ‘미래 국방협력에 대한 동맹 비전’에 따라 한국의 MD 참여도 본격화될 가능성이 높아 보인다.

There were included the issues such as those on the terrorism and the WMD expansion in the joint statement. The ROK side expressed her will on the security, governance, and development in Afghanistan. It looks, according to it, the dispatch of the ROK combat troops to Afghanistan would be driven, under the pretext of the security there. Also, it looks there would be the high possibilities that the exercises according to the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) would be being driven while the ROK participation in the Missile Defense system (MD) would be in earnest, according to the ‘alliance vision for the future cooperation on defense.’

이는 한미동맹의 대미 종속성과 대북 적대성을 심화하고 침략성을 강화하는 것이다. 이는 한미동맹의 적용 대상과 범위를 대북 방어에 한정하고 있는 한미상호방위조약 위반이다. 이로 인해 우리나라의 자주권은 침해되고 남북관계 파탄과 군사적 긴장은 더욱 심화되며 한국의 국제적 위신은 실추되게 된다. 또한 우리 국민의 부담과 희생이 가중되게 된다.

[However,] it is to deepen the natures of the ROK-US alliance, such as those of subordination of the ROK into the U.S. and of the hostility against the North Korea, and to strengthen the invasiveness of that alliance. It is the violation of the ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty that limits the applied target & scope of the ROK-US alliance to the defense against the North Korea. Therefore, our nation’s sovereign right would be infringed; the breakdown of the inter- Korean relationship and military tension [in the Korean peninsula] will be more aggravated; and the international prestige of the ROK would be fallen. The burden and sacrifice of our nation’s people will be aggravated, also.

* To see the ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty, click HERE.

이에 우리는 자주와 평화·통일에 걸림돌을 놓은 한미 외교·국방장관회의 결과를 강력히 규탄한다. 우리는 불법적이고 불평등하며 반평화적인 상태를 구조화하는 침략적 한미동맹 강화 기도를 중단할 것을 한미당국에 촉구한다.

Therefore, we strongly denounce the result of the ROK-US foreign & defense ministers' meeting that put an obstacle in the self-reliance, peace and reunification [of Korea]. We call upon the ROK-US authorities to stop the scheme on the strengthening of the invasive ROK-US alliance that systemize the illegal, unequal and anti-peaceful condition.


2. 천안함 사건 빌미로 한 대북 적대정책으로 동북아에 신냉전 불러오는 한미당국을 규탄한다!

2. We denounce the ROK & US authorities that bring the new cold war in the Northeast Asia with their hostile policies against the North Korea under the pretext of the Cheonan ship incident!

공 동성명은 천안함 사건이 북의 소행이라고 단정하고 그에 대한 책임을 추궁하면서 “무책임한 행동에 대해 심각한 결과가 따를 것임을” 경고하고 있다. 한미양국은 그 연장선에서 세계 최강의 F-22 전투기를 포함한 항공기 200여대, 항공모함 조지 워싱턴호를 비롯한 함정 20여척, 병력 8천여 명이 참가하는 가공할 해상·공중훈련을 비롯한 대잠훈련과 대량살상무기확산방지구상(PSI)에 따른 해상 차단작전 등 일련의 대북 무력시위를 추진하고 있다. 뿐만 아니라 클린턴 미 국무장관은 "(핵) 확산 활동을 지원하는 개인과 거래주체에 대해 자산 동결 조치를 취하고 북한 무역회사의 불법 활동과 관련 은행들의 불법적 금융거래 지원을 중단시킬 것"이라고 밝혔다.

The joint statement being concluded with saying that the Cheonan ship incident is for the conduct [of the attack] by the North Korea and pursued with the questions of North Korean response to it, warns by saying that, “[T]here would be serious consequences for any such irresponsible behavior.” In prolongation of [the statement], The both authorities of ROK-US are driving for the series of the military power demonstration against North Korea, such as the submarine exercise that includes the terrifying sea & air exercise in which 20 F-22 fighter planes that are globally the most powerful, 20 naval vessels including the George Washington-the aircraft carrier, and 8000 force would join; and the maritime interception operation following the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). Not only that, Clinton, the US Secretary of State announced that the U.S. would “take the measure to freeze the asset against the individual and transaction entity who support the [North Korean](nuclear) proliferation activity and make stop the support for the illegal financial transactions of the banks related to the illegal activities of the North Korean trade companies."

* 'U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that the United States would place new sanctions on North Korea, including asset freezes and blocking financial deals. Clinton also said that the United States would give U.N. Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874 new, more stringent authority to force North Korea to end its illegal activities' (New York Times)

"We will implement new country-specific sanctions aimed at North Korea’s sale and procurement of arms and related material and the procurement of luxury goods and other illicit activities [...]" (Hankyoreh)

천안함이 북의 어뢰 공격으로 침몰했다는 한미당국의 주장은 국내외 전문가들의 과학적이고 객관적인 반론에 의해 그 신뢰성을 결정적으로 상실했다. 미국이 주도하는 유엔 안전보장이사회 대북 제재 결의도 실패하고 그나마 나온 의장성명에서도 공격의 주체로 북을 명시하지 못했다. 한미당국의 주장을 국제사회가 인정하지 않은 것이다.

The ROK-US authorities’ claim that the Cheonan ship had sunken due to the torpedo attack by the North Korea lost its trust because of the scientific and objective refutations by the domestic and overseas specialists. The UN Security Council’s sanction resolution against North Korea has failed and its Presidential statement that even so came out could not be named of the North Korea as the attack subject [behind the incident]. It means the international society did not acknowledge the claim by the ROK-US authorities.

이처럼 근본적인 불신의 대상으로 되고 있는 조사결과 발표에 기대어 한미당국이 대북 제재에 혈안이 되어 있는 이유는 한미당국의 불순한 의도 때문이다. 미국은 격변하는 동북아 정세에서 위기에 빠진 자국의 패권을 유지·강화하려는 것이고, 이명박 정부는 반북수구세력의 기득권을 지키고자 하는 것이다.

The reason that the ROK-US authorities are so bloodshot-eyed for the sanction against the North Korea, relying on the announcement of the investigation result that is the object of fundamental distrust is because of the impure intention of the ROK-US authorities. The United States is to maintain and strengthen her dominance that has fallen in the crisis in the circumstance of the Northeast Asia that undergoes the rapid change, while the Lee Myung-Bak government is to save the vested interests of anti-North Korean conservative powers.

한미양국의 강압정책은 북한뿐만 아니라 중국의 반발을 불러일으키고 있다. 이는 남북 대결의 격화뿐만 아니라 동북아에서 진영 간 대결을 초래하여 한반도 비핵화와 평화협정 체결 정세를 뒤로 돌리는 시대역행적인 행동이다. 이는 또한 “분쟁을 회피하고 상황악화를 방지하기 위한 목적으로 적절한 경로를 통해 직접 대화와 협상을 가급적 조속히 재개하기 위해 평화적 수단으로 한반도의 현안들을 해결할 것을 권장”한 유엔 안보리 의장성명에도 어긋난다.

The ROK-US authorities’ coercive policy is raising the repulsions not only by North Korea but also by China. [Theirs] is a retrogressive move to the current era, that retreats the conditions of the non-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula and conclusion of the peace agreement, by causing not only the aggravation of the confrontation between the South and North Korea, but also the confrontation between the camps in the Northeast Asia. It also deviates from the UN Security Council Presidential statement that “encourages the settlement of outstanding issues on the Korean peninsula by peaceful means to resume direct dialogue and negotiation through appropriate channels as early as possible, with a view to avoiding conflicts and averting escalation.”

* To see the UN Security Council Presidential statement regarding the Cheonan ship, please go to this site and move mouse down.

이에 우리는 은폐 조작된 천안함 사건 조사결과 발표를 근거로 대북 강경책을 펼쳐 동북아에 신냉전을 불러오는 한미당국의 행태를 강력히 규탄한다. 우리는 한미양국이 대북 적대정책을 중단하고 유엔 안보리 의장성명이 권장하는 대로 대화와 협상을 통해 한반도 비핵화와 평화협정 체결에 나설 것을 촉구한다.

Therefore, we strongly denounce the behavior of the ROK-US authorities that brings the new cold war in the Northeast Asia, by staging the hard-line policy against North Korea, basing on the announcement of the Cheonan ship investigation result that was concealed and manipulated. We call upon the ROK-US authorities to stop the hostile policy against North Korea and step for the non-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula and conclusion of the peace agreement through dialogue and negotiation as encouraged by the UN Security Council Presidential statement.


3. 군사주권 포기하는 작전통제권 환수 연기 중단하고 즉각 환수하라!

3. Stop the delay of the transition of the [war time] operational control (OPCON) right, that abandons the [ROK] military sovereignty, and immediately return the OPCON back to [the ROK]!

공동성명은 “2015년 12월 한국군으로의 전시작전통제권 전환을 포함한 새로운 계획인 ‘전략동맹2015’를 금년도 안보협의회의(SCM)시까지 완성하기로 하였다.” 여기에는 용산기지이전과 미2사단이전 일정 등도 반영될 것이라고 한다. 그렇다면 국방부의 부인에도 불구하고 방위비분담금의 미2사단이전비용 돌려쓰기를 포함한 기지이전비용도 함께 논의될 수 밖에 없을 것이다. 작전통제권 환수 연기 합의를 전후하여 7년이나 쟁점이 되어왔던 미군기지이전비용이나 시기 등에 대해 미국의 요구가 관철되는 방향으로 의견이 모아지고 있는 것은 우리의 판단이 틀리지 않음을 보여준다.

The joint statement says that the both “[Ministers] also decided to complete a new plan, Strategic Alliance 2015, by this year's Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), including the transition of wartime Operational Control (OPCON) to the ROK military in December 2015.” It says the schedule of the relocation of the Yongsan garrison and 2nd Division of the US Army would be included in the plan, too. If then, [we suspect that], despite the denial of the Ministry of National Defense, ROK, the base relocation cost including the diverting of the defense sharing cost for the relocation cost of the 2nd Division of the US Army cannot but be discussed [in the SCM]. The thing that the opinions on the cost and term for the relocation of the US base, that have been the controversy points for seven years, are being converged toward the direction in which the U. S. demands are to be fulfilled, timing before and after the agreement on the delay of the OPCON transition, shows that our judgment is not wrong.

전시작전통제권은 군사주권의 핵심이기 때문에 어떤 이유와 조건도 없이 즉각 환수되어야 한다. 그럼에도 불구하고 한미양국이 가당치 않은 이유를 들이대면서 작전통제권 환수를 연기한 것은 우리나라의 군사주권 회복을 또다시 미루는 것으로서 규탄 받아 마땅하다. 게다가 이와 연관시켜 미군기지이전비용마저 추가적으로 부담케 된다면 우리 국민은 이중의 피해를 입게 된다.

Since the wartime operational control right is the core of the military sovereignty, it should be immediately recovered without any reason and condition. Nevertheless the ROK-US authorities have delayed the transition of the OPCON with the unreasonable reasons and they deserve the denunciation for the delaying again of the recovery of the military sovereignty of [ROK]. Furthermore, if the ROK should additionally charge the relocation cost of the US bases [in Korea], with the cost being related [to the delay of the transition of the operational control [right], the people in our nation would get the double damages.

이에 우리는 군사주권의 핵심인 작전통제권 환수 연기를 강력히 규탄한다. 우리는 작전통제권을 즉각 환수하며 환수 연기와 연관된 미군기지이전비용 등의 추가 부담 기도를 즉각 중단할 것을 요구한다.

Therefore, we strongly denounce the delay of the transition of the [war time] operational control right that is the core of the military sovereignty. We call upon the both authorities to immediately recover the [wartime] operational control right [to the ROK] and to immediately stop the scheme on the [South Koreans’] additional charge of the relocation cost for the US base, in relation to the delay of the [war time] operational control right.

2010. 7. 22.

July 22, 2010

평화와통일을여는사람들

Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea

(상임대표 : 문규현, 배종열, 홍근수)

(Executive Co-representatives: Fr. Moon Kyu-Hyun, Bae Jong-Ryol and Rev. Hong Geun-Soo)