The Marmot’s Hole

This makes total sense, but at the same time, doesn’t:

The United States should not misinterpret or be surprised when South Korea responds differently on North Korean issues because Seoul’s national interests are different, a senior U.S. congressman said Wednesday.

Rep. Peter Hoekstra (RMichigan), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, drew parallels between South Korea and developments in the Middle East, where Iran, Iraq and Syria are initiating independent diplomacy outside of U.S. interests.

Hoekstra said it “shouldn’t be a surprise” that these countries are focused on their internal needs.

OK, we all can agree that the national interests of Seoul and Washington differ, especially as they pertain to North Korea (and Japan, and possibly China and Taiwan). But assuming, just for a moment, that alliances are usually built upon common interests, both sides need to ask themselves whether the interest gap is so wide that the ROK-U.S. alliance—especially as it’s currently structured—no longer makes much sense.  I’m not sure what, exactly, Rep. Hoekstra was trying to say—I haven’t found the full statement—but I don’t see how comparing the initiatives of the Roh administration to the foreign policies of Iran, Syria and Iraq should be taken as a ringing endorsement of the future of the alliance.