Ex-Sen. Warner awarded South Korean medal for helping enhance alliance

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, May 12 (Yonhap) -- Retired U.S. politician John Warner was awarded a
medal Tuesday by the South Korean government for his contribution to enhancing
the bilateral alliance and promoting the six-party talks on North Korea's
denuclearization.
South Korean Ambassador Han Duck-soo presented the Order of Diplomatic Service
Merit Gwanghwa Medal to former Sen. Warner (R-Virginia) at the ambassador's
residence.
In his capacity as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Warner
legislated in 2006 to mandate then-President George W. Bush to appoint a North
Korea policy coordinator so he could report to Congress developments on North
Korea's nuclear and missile programs every six months.
A Korean War veteran, Warner in 2000 initiated the resolution to commemorate the
50th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. Earlier resolutions honored
Korean War veterans and marked the Korean War truce.
A former five-term senator until January 2009, Warner also served as secretary of
the Navy from 1972 to 1974, and once was married to actress Elizabeth Taylor.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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