1) “The U.S. was responsible for the division of the Korean Peninsula — pretty much indisputable historical fact there”.

Are you referring to the division of the post-WWII occupation responsibility for the previously Japanese-occupied Korean peninsula, between the US and the Soviet Union — or to the failure of the predominantly US-led “UN” offensive of Sept-Nov 1950 to fully secure all of North Korea, in order to effect reunification under the Syngman Rhee ROK government?

Probably the first. If so, it’s worth remembering that Soviet ground forces were entering Korea in force beginning 10 August 1945 (while the war was still ongoing) — and that this was long before any US forces were in a position to do so. Had it not been for the joint occupation agreement arranged between the US and the USSR, all of Korea would have been occupied by the Soviets.

Which of course would have facilitated unification. If in retrospect you think this is what should have happened (ie, the “truth”) — why not just say so forthrightly?

2) “Perhaps the best thing to do is to just focus on the truth…”

Yes, but in my Father’s house there are many mansions, and under His clear blue Korean sky there are many “truths”.

I’m perfectly agreeable with making my country (the US) have to deal with the T&R Commission’s “truth” as regards the 215 “incidents” — and on the T&R commission’s own terms. All I ask is that they put them out there in English for display, in the full spotlight of US (and world) publicity; after all, if one really believes in one’s own “truth”, it deserves nothing less.

“The truth is out there”.

3) “…not try to force the reconciliation.”

The “reconciliation” that is being forced here is an artificial one, by the ROK towards an unrepentent, recalcitrant, and belligerent DPRK. It’s being leveraged on an ROK presumption of infinite patience (and infinite assumption of responsibility) on the part of the US.

Well, so far that’s been a “safe” assumption by the ROK. I guess we’ll see just how much longer that can last.

Is South Korea better off today because the US intervened in the Korean War? I think that’s pretty indisputable. But that doesn’t change the fact that along the way, some US troops at some points committed some acts that would be characterized as war crimes under international law. Perhaps fewer than the Chinese, and definitely fewer than either the North or South Korean armies, but they happened nonetheless.

Compensation is a tricky issue, and trying to give relative ranks of who did more bad to whom only gets one bogged down in a morass of nationalistic and ideological posturing. Perhaps the best thing to do is to just focus on the truth (Japan did enslave the comfort women, Koreans did mistreat allied prisoners of war, North Korea did start the Korean War, and the US did shoot civilians at Nogunri and other places) and not try to force the reconciliation.

Not even that makes any reference to alleged US specific war crimes.

If somebody can show me otherwise I’d be happey to stand corrected. And if there’s a link anywhere else giving an English translation of their findings I’d appreciate the address.

Whether any air forces remain should probably depend on whether Korea begins to act like an ally again or whether it just continues to exploit anti-Americanism as if there are no negative consequences for that.

Since air doesn’t need to be stationed in Korea to be deployed there effectively if the need arises - and the need should be strictly one that serves US interests, narrowly construed - the air resources should be pulled too. If Korea begins to behave like an ally, a genuinely reciprocal mutual defense commitment is enough, i.e., Korea needs to fully fund its defense requirements w/out any US taxpayer support.

Now, as far acknowledging that South Korea is abusing its relationship with America in general and its soldiers in particular for rank political gain, yes, I recall having made that point somewhere myself.

I advocate removing all U.S. ground forces from Korea on a very short timetable. Whether any air forces remain should probably depend on whether Korea begins to act like an ally again or whether it just continues to exploit anti-Americanism as if there are no negative consequences for that.

Just don’t get out of Nato and Norad.

No more entangling alliances. Let our troops protect Americans and let our free-markets spread liberty. If SK wants to smear us and make demands for apologies, let them do it without our troops.