U.S.-Korea alliance to remain intact after knife attack on U.S. envoy: experts
- 9 years ago
The alarming knife attack on U.S. Ambassador Lippert yesterday, shook the nation... and also sparked concerns about whether it will affect Seoul's relations with Washington.
But the general view by analysts is... that the U.S.-Korea alliance will remain intact.
Hwang Sung-hee reports.
South Korea and the United States have enjoyed an alliance that gets stronger by the day.
And then this happened -- a brutal knife attack on the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert by a South Korean man at an event in central Seoul.
But experts are not worried about the incident affecting the alliance.
"If you think about it, the national interest does not change."
That national interest stretches from trade and tourism to military cooperation, with a focus on countering North Korean threats.
The suspect in Thursday's attack shouted his opposition to the joint South Korea-U.S. military drills.
"We are not reunited. The war exercise should be stopped."
But the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command stands firm by its plan to conduct the drills, scheduled to continue through late April.
North Korea's hasty response to the attack,... calling it a "deserved punishment" and the "knife of justice" for the joint exercises, may also bolster Seoul and Washington's commitment in dealing with Pyongyang's human rights abuses and nuclear program.
"This will push them even further to support more punitive actions and aggressive actions."
Most analysts say the pillars of the alliance are too strong to be shaken by an unpredictable "lone wolf" attack by a crazed individual.
"But some do point out that while the relationship at the government-level will remain intact, the incident could take a toll on U.S. public sentiment about security in South Korea.
Hwang Sung-hee, Arirang News."
But the general view by analysts is... that the U.S.-Korea alliance will remain intact.
Hwang Sung-hee reports.
South Korea and the United States have enjoyed an alliance that gets stronger by the day.
And then this happened -- a brutal knife attack on the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert by a South Korean man at an event in central Seoul.
But experts are not worried about the incident affecting the alliance.
"If you think about it, the national interest does not change."
That national interest stretches from trade and tourism to military cooperation, with a focus on countering North Korean threats.
The suspect in Thursday's attack shouted his opposition to the joint South Korea-U.S. military drills.
"We are not reunited. The war exercise should be stopped."
But the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command stands firm by its plan to conduct the drills, scheduled to continue through late April.
North Korea's hasty response to the attack,... calling it a "deserved punishment" and the "knife of justice" for the joint exercises, may also bolster Seoul and Washington's commitment in dealing with Pyongyang's human rights abuses and nuclear program.
"This will push them even further to support more punitive actions and aggressive actions."
Most analysts say the pillars of the alliance are too strong to be shaken by an unpredictable "lone wolf" attack by a crazed individual.
"But some do point out that while the relationship at the government-level will remain intact, the incident could take a toll on U.S. public sentiment about security in South Korea.
Hwang Sung-hee, Arirang News."