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.
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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