오바마 대통령은 26일 서울 용산기지에서 주한미군 장병과 가족 1500여명이 모인 가운데 한 연설에서 “우리는 동맹들과 우리의 삶의 방식을 수호하기 위해 군사력을 쓰는 것을 주저하지 않을 것”이라고 밝혔다.
또한 북한의 4차 핵실험 준비 징후가 나타나고 있는 가운데, “북한의 지속적인 핵무기 추구는 단지 더욱 깊은 고립으로 이어지는 길”이라고 경고했다.
오바마 대통령은 또 “38선은 이제 열린 사회와 닫힌 사회, 자라나는 민주주의 체제와 국민을 굶기는 ‘왕따 국가’(pariah state) 사이의 대조가 존재하는 곳”이라며 “이것은 전쟁 때문이 아니라 북한이 도발과 세계에서 가장 위험한 무기를 추구하는 것을 선택한 결과”라고 말했다.
그러면서 “다른 모든 나라처럼 북한과 그 국민은 선택할 수 있다”며 “그들은 고립의 외로운 길을 계속 걸어갈 수도, 한국이 이미 그랬듯이, 나머지 세상에 들어와 더욱 큰 기회와 안전보장, 존중을 구할 수도 있다”고 강조했다.
오바마 대통령은 세월호 희생자들과 그 가족들에게 다시 한 번 애도의 뜻을 나타냈다.
그는 “우리의 한국인 친구들, 많은 훌륭한 젊은이들이 사라졌다는 점에 가슴이 무너진다”며 “그럼에도 우리는 자신의 죽음에 직면해서도 다른 모두가 구명조끼를 가졌는지를 확인하려던 젊은 여성과 ‘아이들을 구하러 가는 길이다’라는 마지막 말을 남긴 한 남성의 영웅적이고 이타적인 얘기에 고무받게 된다”고 했다.
오바마 대통령은 이날 박근혜 대통령과 함께 한미연합사령부를 함께 방문했다. 양국 정상이 한미연합사를 같이 찾는 것은 1978년 연합사 창설 이래 처음이다.
박 대통령과 오바마 대통령은 연합사령관인 커티스 스캐퍼로티 주한미군사령관으로부터 연합방위태세에 대한 현황을 받았고, 북한의 도발 시 단호히 대처하겠다는 강력한 의지를 천명했다고 청와대가 전했다.
(관련 영문기사)
‘U.S. will not hesitate to use military to defend allies’
U.S. President Barack Obama warned Saturday that Washington could use its military force to defend its allies, while ratcheting up pressure on North Korea to renounce its nuclear ambitions.
During his visit to Yongsan Garrison, the U.S. military headquarters in central Seoul, he also underscored that the South Korea-U.S. alliance would not waver with “each bout of Pyongyang’s attention-seeking.”
His strongly worded speech came as the communist state has warned of a “new form” of nuclear test and made a set of saber-rattling moves including the firing of ballistic missiles last month.
“We will not hesitate to use our military might to defend our allies and our way of life,” he told a gathering of some 1,500 U.S. military personnel and family members at the garrison.
“Like all nations on earth, North Korea and its people have a choice. They can choose to continue down a lonely road of isolation, or they can join the rest of the world and seek a future of greater opportunity, greater security and greater respect.”
Obama arrived here on Friday for a two-day visit. Korea was the second leg of his tour of four Asian nations including Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Referring to the North as a “pariah state” that would rather starve its people than feed their hopes and dreams, Obama said that nuclear weapons would not make the North strong. He also stressed that Washington’s security partnership with Seoul would only grow stronger in the face of aggression.
“North Korea’s continued pursuit of nuclear weapons is a path that leads only to more isolation. It is not a sign of strength. Anybody can make threats, anyone can move an army and anyone can show off a missile,” he said.
“It does not give you security, or opportunity or respect. Those things don’t come through force. They have to be earned.”
Obama also expressed sadness over the tragic loss of hundreds of people in the recent ferry disaster, reaffirming the U.S.’ continued support for the rescue-and-search operations off the country’s southwestern coast.
“America will continue to support every rescue and recovery effort. It is the spirit that allows this alliance to endure. That is we are about. That’s been our commitment for more than 60 years, in good times and in bad.”
His meeting with U.S. service members came right after he and President Park Geun-hye visited the Combined Forces Command. It was the first time for the two presidents of the allies to jointly visit the allied institution since the CFC was incepted in 1978.
Their visit to the CFC highlighted their resolve to sternly deal with additional provocations, particularly at the time when the North threatened to conduct a fourth nuclear test, which would significantly enhance its military nuclear capability.
“I believe that (our visit to the CFC) is very meaningful at the time when North Korea’s military threats are increasing,” Park was quoted as saying by her spokesperson Min Kyung-wook.
“I ask you to maintain strong deterrence with a robust allied defense posture so that North Korea dare not launch provocations.”
After a briefing on the security situations by CFC Commander Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, Obama signed the guest book on the table where the Korean War Armistice was signed in July 1953. He called the table a symbol of the sacrifices of many people.
During the visit to the CFC, Park was accompanied by Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Choi Yoon-hee, her chief of staff Kim Ki-chun and National Security Office chief Kim Jang-soo. Obama was with U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Sung Kim and National Security Adviser Susan Rice.
By Song Sang-ho (
sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
