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| Kerry Rejects Delaying South Korea Exercise | Kerry Rejects Delaying South Korea Exercise |
| (7 months later) | |
| SEOUL, South Korea — Secretary of State John Kerry rebuffed North Korea’s demand that the United States and South Korea briefly delay a joint military exercise this month so that it does not coincide with the scheduled reunion of families separated by the Korean War. | |
| If held, the reunions would signal a significant thaw between the two Koreas. North Korea argues that exercises raise tensions, while American and South Korean officials view Pyongyang’s latest demand as part of its longstanding effort to undermine the United States’ military commitment to South Korea. | If held, the reunions would signal a significant thaw between the two Koreas. North Korea argues that exercises raise tensions, while American and South Korean officials view Pyongyang’s latest demand as part of its longstanding effort to undermine the United States’ military commitment to South Korea. |
| Mr. Kerry’s comments came during the first stop of a multination trip to Asia meant in part to solidify efforts for dealing with North Korea and its increasingly sophisticated nuclear weapons programs. His arrival in South Korea came on the heels of a White House announcement on Wednesday that President Obama will visit South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines in April, part of the administration’s continuing efforts to direct more of its attention to Asia as China rises. | Mr. Kerry’s comments came during the first stop of a multination trip to Asia meant in part to solidify efforts for dealing with North Korea and its increasingly sophisticated nuclear weapons programs. His arrival in South Korea came on the heels of a White House announcement on Wednesday that President Obama will visit South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines in April, part of the administration’s continuing efforts to direct more of its attention to Asia as China rises. |
| The joint military drills with South Korea are supposed to begin on Feb. 24. In a news conference with his South Korean counterpart, Mr. Kerry said that it was not “appropriate” to link humanitarian issues with North Korea’s security demands. | The joint military drills with South Korea are supposed to begin on Feb. 24. In a news conference with his South Korean counterpart, Mr. Kerry said that it was not “appropriate” to link humanitarian issues with North Korea’s security demands. |
| “The family reunification is a matter of human rights,” Mr. Kerry said. “There is no legitimate excuse for linking the two.” | “The family reunification is a matter of human rights,” Mr. Kerry said. “There is no legitimate excuse for linking the two.” |
| Yun Byung-se, South Korea’s foreign minister, also rejected the North’s demand. “On that, South Korea and the United States have no difference at all,” he said. | Yun Byung-se, South Korea’s foreign minister, also rejected the North’s demand. “On that, South Korea and the United States have no difference at all,” he said. |
| There was no immediate response from North Korea, and it was unclear whether the family reunions, scheduled for Feb. 20-25, would still take place. North and South Korea were to begin a second round of high-level talks on Friday to discuss the issue. | There was no immediate response from North Korea, and it was unclear whether the family reunions, scheduled for Feb. 20-25, would still take place. North and South Korea were to begin a second round of high-level talks on Friday to discuss the issue. |
| Robert Carlin, a former State Department official, asserted in the online publication 38 North that the fact that North Korean officials had proposed that the exercises be delayed a couple of days, and not canceled, was a sign that Pyongyang had been interested in exploring “various compromises” on the issue. | Robert Carlin, a former State Department official, asserted in the online publication 38 North that the fact that North Korean officials had proposed that the exercises be delayed a couple of days, and not canceled, was a sign that Pyongyang had been interested in exploring “various compromises” on the issue. |
| Mr. Obama’s visit to the region will take place amid increased tensions between South Korea and Japan that experts say have hampered efforts by the United States to forge a united front with its Asian allies against North Korea and in its diplomacy toward China. | Mr. Obama’s visit to the region will take place amid increased tensions between South Korea and Japan that experts say have hampered efforts by the United States to forge a united front with its Asian allies against North Korea and in its diplomacy toward China. |
| Mr. Obama had deferred plans to visit Malaysia and the Philippines in October because of the United States government shutdown. Now that the trip has been rescheduled, visits to Tokyo and Seoul have been added to the itinerary. | Mr. Obama had deferred plans to visit Malaysia and the Philippines in October because of the United States government shutdown. Now that the trip has been rescheduled, visits to Tokyo and Seoul have been added to the itinerary. |
| At the news conference on Thursday, Mr. Kerry, who also met with President Park Geun-hye of South Korea, urged the South and Japan to “put history behind them” and heal their rift. | At the news conference on Thursday, Mr. Kerry, who also met with President Park Geun-hye of South Korea, urged the South and Japan to “put history behind them” and heal their rift. |
| Mr. Yun, however, blamed Japan for the problems. | Mr. Yun, however, blamed Japan for the problems. |
| “Some Japanese political leaders have made a lot of historically incorrect remarks,” said Mr. Yun, whose country was colonized by Japan in the 20th century. “And so these leaders must look at history as it is, and they must be very sincere.” | “Some Japanese political leaders have made a lot of historically incorrect remarks,” said Mr. Yun, whose country was colonized by Japan in the 20th century. “And so these leaders must look at history as it is, and they must be very sincere.” |
| Relations between Japan and South Korea have been sour for months, but they were aggravated recently by the visit of the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, to a shrine that commemorates the more than two million Japanese war dead, including convicted war criminals. Many in South Korea view such visits as proof that Japan has not fully owned up to its imperial past. | Relations between Japan and South Korea have been sour for months, but they were aggravated recently by the visit of the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, to a shrine that commemorates the more than two million Japanese war dead, including convicted war criminals. Many in South Korea view such visits as proof that Japan has not fully owned up to its imperial past. |
| American officials witnessed how rapidly the already tense relations between Japan and South Korea deteriorated under Mr. Abe and Ms. Park when Chuck Hagel, the United States defense secretary, visited Seoul in September. When Mr. Hagel appealed to Ms. Park to improve relations with Japan, she denounced Mr. Abe’s “total absence of sincerity” and urged the defense secretary to use his “influence so that Japan will make the effort necessary to earn the trust of its neighboring countries.” | American officials witnessed how rapidly the already tense relations between Japan and South Korea deteriorated under Mr. Abe and Ms. Park when Chuck Hagel, the United States defense secretary, visited Seoul in September. When Mr. Hagel appealed to Ms. Park to improve relations with Japan, she denounced Mr. Abe’s “total absence of sincerity” and urged the defense secretary to use his “influence so that Japan will make the effort necessary to earn the trust of its neighboring countries.” |
| At the time, some American officials expressed frustration with South Korea, but Ms. Park has continued to refuse to hold a summit meeting with Mr. Abe. Mr. Abe’s visit to the war shrine also drew American disapproval. | At the time, some American officials expressed frustration with South Korea, but Ms. Park has continued to refuse to hold a summit meeting with Mr. Abe. Mr. Abe’s visit to the war shrine also drew American disapproval. |
| On Friday, Mr. Kerry is scheduled to fly to Beijing to seek China’s help in pressuring North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programs. | On Friday, Mr. Kerry is scheduled to fly to Beijing to seek China’s help in pressuring North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programs. |
| Mr. Yun said that North Korea had recently been sending “mixed signals,” on one hand calling for dialogue, and on the other continuing to work to expand its nuclear and missile programs. | Mr. Yun said that North Korea had recently been sending “mixed signals,” on one hand calling for dialogue, and on the other continuing to work to expand its nuclear and missile programs. |
| In addition to discussing North Korea in Beijing, Mr. Kerry plans to address climate change and China’s claims to maritime territories long claimed by other countries in the region. China’s increasingly assertive moves to establish its claims have raised tensions in East and Southeast Asia. On Saturday, Mr. Kerry is to head to Indonesia, where he will deliver a speech on climate change. | In addition to discussing North Korea in Beijing, Mr. Kerry plans to address climate change and China’s claims to maritime territories long claimed by other countries in the region. China’s increasingly assertive moves to establish its claims have raised tensions in East and Southeast Asia. On Saturday, Mr. Kerry is to head to Indonesia, where he will deliver a speech on climate change. |