Our Man in Seoul

Ambassador Alexander Vershbow has arrived:

Acting as America’s face, another task for the new ambassador will be to interact with the South Korean public, particularly the younger generation that did not experience the Korean War. This is important because Seoul has increasingly been making clear in recent years that it wants to be treated as an equal partner in the bilateral relationship.

Mr. Vershbow is also expected to push Seoul more on North Korean human rights, but exactly how much he can do remains to be seen considering the ongoing nuclear talks and Seoul’s kid-glove handling of the issue.

I think the two issues are inextricably linked. The South Koreans see the North as benign and us as the real threat because they don’t comprehend the North Korean regime’s lack of regard for human life.

Update: Already, some encouraging news:

The newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Korea and the new Korean envoy to the U.S. both held press conferences in Washington on Thursday afternoon. Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-shik had arrived on the day while U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow is scheduled to leave for Korea on Saturday. The coincidence of appointments is unique and owing to a string of contingencies including the sudden resignation of Lee’s predecessor after only a few months in office.

Both announced as one their aim to “become closer to the people” and foster greater mutual understanding that way. Behind both men’s PR activities, where their first order of business will be fighting anti-American or anti-Korean sentiment, is the recognition that the Korea-U.S. alliance needs urgent remedial work. Both men reportedly consider former U.S. ambassador Christopher Hill, who left a strong impression in Korea with his vigorous activity domestically and abroad, a role model.

Asked what he would tell Americans concerned about recent attempts in Korea to topple a statue of U.S. general Douglas MacArthur in Incheon, Lee said, “The government has taken a clear stance on MacArthur and the contributions the US made during the Korean War to protect freedom and peace in Korea.

Actually, that would be the first time, but I’ll let it slide.

Meanwhile, Vershbow said he hoped his experience promoting democracy in the former USSR and the Eastern bloc would be helpful in dealings with North Korea, which is also in transition. He also stressed Pyongyang’s human rights record was important to both South Korea and the U.S., adding the two countries should cooperate in trying to resolve the problem.

It sounds absolutely great, so far. Since I started my site, one of my goals was to bring some attention to the fundamental sickness of the alliance so that some other, stronger, more functional alliance could be rebuilt in its place. Perhaps the specter of a congressional hearing has finally focused some minds.