MacArthur Update

Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon has responded to the House International Relations Committee’s letter to President Roh:

In the letter, Ban pledged his government to do its best in thwarting any attempt to demolish or damage the statue, saying such a bid runs counter to the “mature perception of history by South Koreans”.

Ban reiterated that Roh had officially opposed destruction of the statue on multiple occasions, saying he was confident attempts by a minority of Koreans to harm the statue will not adversely affect the South Korea-U.S. relationship.

The South Korean people and government will never forget the sacrifices Americans made to defend democracy in South Korea, Ban said, adding most South Koreans remember MacArthur as a “great and courageous hero” of the Korean War.

It’s interesting that the South Koreans released this over the weekend, and much moreso that Ban, not Roh, responded to a letter addressed to the former. Roh is still triangulating. He’s clearly afraid to take a strong stand against the red-vests.

Meanwhile, more U.S. and international media are picking up the story:

• Wired
• Army Times
• Air Force Times (The latter stories erroneously characterize Congress’s letter as requesting the return of the statue. That’s clearly offered as a last resort.)
• AFP / Channel News Asia
• The Washington Times also has a subscribers-only piece.