Reunification of Korea

Robert A. Manning was right when he wrote (Opinion, Nov. 24) that the nuclear accord with North Korea will not be sustainable unless it is a part of a larger design to reduce military confrontation and begin political reconciliation in Korea. Yet the measures he suggested to attain this goal seem short of having a good chance for successful implementation.

Any such “larger design” will not be large enough for a solution to ever-looming Korean problems unless it encompasses the following features:

* A formal ending of the Korean War of 1950-53 to open the way for a realistic disarmament and the pullback of forces on both sides of the dividing line.

* An international political arrangement conducive to the realization of a unified and neutralized Korea, based specifically, among others, on the following principles:

a. The U.S. forces in South Korea as an adversary to North Korea are “technically” withdrawn.

b. North and South Korea co-exist peacefully for a set period of time, say five to 10 years, while promoting mutual contacts and cooperation with a view to mitigating animosity between Seoul and Pyongyang.

c. A new unified Korean government is established, preferably within 10 years, under which no political and social revenge is sought against any person for political activities undertaken prior to reunification.

As a country that originated and sustained the traumatic division of Korea, the U.S. has moral responsibility to end that division and help Koreans realize their long-held aspiration for reunification.

HWAL WOONG LEE

Granada Hills

The writer was a Korean consul in Los Angeles during 1968-71 and later served as president of the Korea Reunification Forum in Los Angeles.