I just want to share a couple of interesting links for your reading pleasure.
First, the Bruce Klingner has an interesting piece on the upcoming FTA negotiations between the USA and Korea. The overview:
President Roh Moo-hyun’s willingness to face down strong domestic opposition to resolve long-standing bilateral trade disputes will provide further positive momentum for the initial negotiating rounds. That said, the negotiations will be contentious and could be derailed by several core issues. Although talks will focus on trade, the degree of public and legislative support will be affected by bilateral disputes over unrelated political and security issues, including differences over policy toward North Korea. To be successful, negotiations will require strong presidential commitment and intervention to overcome the inevitable deadlocks and attain legislative approval.
I agree that Roh does deserve props for pissing off his base to get the FTA on track. Just like in the FTA negotiations, the devil is in the details, so go read the whole thing.
On the political front, Joshua at The Korea Liberator has, not one, not two, but three pieces on the fall out of last week’s local elections. I don’t agree with everything he has to say (he thinks that it is 50/50 that Roh will resign while I think Roh has found some backbone) but it is all good reading.
