YONHAP NEWS

(LEAD) U.S. ready to execute contingency plans after Kim Jong-il's death: commander

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, July 22 (Yonhap) -- The United States has come up with scenarios to cope with any contingencies in North Korea after leader Kim Jong-il's death, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command said Wednesday.

   "We are prepared to execute a wide range of options in concert with allies in South Korea and in discussions through (the Department of) State, which would have the lead, with countries in the region, and internationally if necessary," Adm. Timothy Keating said at a news conference at the Pentagon. "I don't think it is axiomatic that the departure of Kim Jong-il means a national security crisis. We'd hope it wouldn't. But we are going to be prepared if it does mean that."

   Keating's remarks come amid allegations that Kim Jong-il has been pushing ahead with nuclear and missile tests to pave the way for a smooth power transition to his third and youngest son Jong-un, 26, after he apparently suffered a stroke last summer.

   "What would happen if and when he cedes control or is no longer capable of exercising control? Don't know," the commander said. "But I can tell you that we have plans with the United States Forces-Korea and others in place if the president tells us to execute those plans in the event of some uncertain succession in the North."

   The commander made his remarks as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with her counterparts from South Korea, China, Japan and Russia, members of the six-party talks on ending North Korea's ambitions, in Phuket, Thailand, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum.

   On the Thai resort island, Clinton expressed the U.S. intent to normalize ties with Pyongyang "if they will agree to irreversible denuclearization."

   Otherwise, the top U.S. diplomat warned, the reclusive communist state "will face international isolation and the unrelenting pressure of global sanctions."

   Pyongyang has said it will boycott the multilateral nuclear talks unless the U.N. apologizes for the sanctions imposed for its recent nuclear and missile tests.

   Keating said he was not sure about the North Korean leader's health and possible successor.

   "The facts as I know them are fairly limited. He has clearly suffered some change of health. Is it the result of a stroke? Is that change the result of a stroke? Is there some larger issue at stake? I don't know," he said. "He's a different man today than he was a year ago, physically, in appearance. As to his mental acuity, I don't know. As to the plan for succession, I don't know."

   On allegations that North Korea is cooperating militarily with Myanmar, Keating said, "If it is, in fact, Burma that is receiving goods and assistance from North Korea, that's against -- that violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718. And we, along with the international community, would be very concerned if that is, in fact, occurring."

   Clinton Wednesday expressed "growing concerns" over "military cooperation between North Korea and Burma, which we take very seriously," hinting at the possible transfer of nuclear and missile technology to Myanmar, formerly Burma.

   At a daily news briefing, State Department spokesman Robert Wood elaborated on Clinton's remarks made a day earlier.

   "What the secretary said was that we and our other partners in the region are very concerned about military cooperation, the extent of military cooperation between Burma and North Korea," Wood said. "And what we want to see happen is that U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874 be fully implemented. We intend to do that, and we encourage other countries to do that, as well."

   A North Korean cargo ship, possibly on its way to Myanmar, returned home recently after a pursuit by U.S. Navy vessels operating under an interdiction mandate imposed recently by the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874, which was adopted in early June after North Korea's second nuclear test on May 25.

   The resolution bans the North from any further nuclear and ballistic missile tests and imposes financial sanctions, an overall arms embargo and cargo interdictions to head off the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by the North.

   Under the resolution, the U.N. Security Council slapped fresh sanctions on North Korea last week by listing five North Korean officials and as many North Korean firms subject to a travel ban and asset freeze for their involvement in nuclear and missile development programs.

   hdh@yna.co.kr
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