Anchor: In the wake of the government's decision to suspend massive annual military exercises with the U.S., a key presidential adviser hinted that the American troops in South Korea will remain on the peninsula at least for the time being. In an exclusive interview with KBS World Radio, Special Adviser Moon Jung-in also expressed hope that North Korean human rights issues will be eventually addressed once denuclearization is achieved.  
Kim Bum-soo has more. 
 
Report:

[Sound bite: Presidential Special Adviser for Foreign Affairs and National Security (English)] 
"We still have strategic uncertainty in Northeast Asia... certain changes of American forces in South Korea, or the status of the R.O.K-U.S. alliance, could bring about a negative impact on the regional stability." 

The joint military drills with the U.S. have now been officially suspended. But a key presidential official in Seoul says the American troops should remain on the Korean Peninsula.
 
In an interview with KBS World Radio on Tuesday, Presidential Special Adviser Moon Chung-in said the U.S. Forces in South Korea is simply a matter of the South Korea-U.S. alliance. 

[Sound bite: Presidential Special Adviser for Foreign Affairs and National Security (English)] 
"[It] is not directly tied up to the issue of [signing a] peace accord with North Korea. Of course, North Korea could raise the issue but North Korea so far has not raised that issue. Therefore, the US Forces in South Korea can be pursued independent of any kinds of peace agreement with North Korea at least for the time being."

In an article published in April, Special Adviser Moon had argued that a peace treaty with the North would make it difficult to justify the continuing presence of American troops in South Korea.

[Sound bite: Presidential Special Adviser for Foreign Affairs and National Security (English)] 
"Theoretically speaking, if there is no common threat or common enemy, there is no raison d'être of retaining American troops in South Korea, but you got to face reality. If a reduction of American forces comes to the front, then there will be enormous domestic political chaos in South Korea. Therefore, the South Korean government will be in a very difficult decision to push for the political peace accord itself."

Amid the concerns that Seoul and Washington are neglecting North Korean human rights issues, the presidential adviser said that the situation will be eventually fixed.

[Sound bite: Presidential Special Adviser for Foreign Affairs and National Security (English)] 
"It is a matter of priority. What is urgent right now is North Korea's nuclear and missile issues. We should resolve that issue first, but if we are able to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue, then we will be able to cultivate mutual trust. Then, it would be much easier for us to push for human rights issues in North Korea."

He also expressed hope that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his North Korean counterparts will be able to iron out differences on issues of regime safety and denuclearization. 
Kim Bum-soo, KBS World Radio News.

[Photo : KBS WORLD Radio]