Evening star., 1961-10-29
Jopon Issue Due
In Koreans Visit
By WILLIAM GLENN
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HONG KONG. interchangeable
international observers here and
In other Asian capitals attach
great importance to the forth
coming Washington discussions
between President Kennedy and 1t.
Gen. Park Chung Hee, chairman
OF Korea's revolutionary govern-
ment.
The Korean strong man. ac-
companied by other members of
the military junta and presum-
ably including powerful figures
from the "young colonel'' group.
will be in the United States Cap
1tal November IA and is.
This viii be the first visit of
q top Korean leader to Washing
ton since Syngman Rhee was in
vited by President Eisenhower in
the summer of 1854.
Observers say that these will
be key issues involved in Gen.
Parks mission:
/. Additional economic assist
aflce to Korea and much greater
efficency-on both the Korean and
american sides-in implementa-
tion Of the aid program.
2. Settlement of Korea-Japan
differences. The United States has
sought this for years, and is gen.
orally agreed that If it cannot
be done under the military gov
ernment, there is no hope for the
foreseeable future.
8. Adjustment Of the military
and disciplinary situations. The
Defense Department has felt deep
concern about supremacy Of the
9th Army United Nations COM
mander-in-chief ever since last
springs military coup.
4. Agreement upon a timetable
for return of power to civilians
and assurance Of respect for per-
sonal liberty.
Critical Economic Condition
Korean experts are Of the opin-
ion that the economic situation
is critical, that should there be
further deterioration, counter
coup or another popular uprising
is quite possible.
Unquestionably, the 2 billion
dollar investment Of the United
States in the Korean economy
has done tremendous good espe-
cially. 10 the repair Of war dam
ages.
But unemployment and under
employment runs into the mil
lions. The economy Is stagnant
and almost completely dependent
upon continued United States as
sistance. In the long run, the
Communists stand to win grudg-
ing converts II nothing Is done
to remedy the situation, and
above all, to put more people to
work.
Closely related to the economic
outlook Is the prospect Of Korea
Japan accommodation and the
beginning Of Japanese investment
and technical assistance.
Koreans are approaching the
subject with great caution, and
there is still much anti-Japanese
sentiment. Even so. the subject
can now be discussed, and that
is a far cry from the Syngman
Rhee period, when to suggest jap
anese investment or help would
have been tantamount to treason.
Despite the hatred that stems
from Japan's long occupation Of
the peninsula, Koreans like Japa-
nese goods, understand Japanese
production methods, and-except
for those younger than their early
20s-can speak and read jap
aneSe.
If political safeguards could be
found, Japan could help Korea
immensely in the economic
sphere.
Sensitive MiIitoT Matter
Most sensitive will be the Ken
nedy-Park examination Of mill
tary matters, the restoration Of
Korean political rights the sched-
uling Of elections, and the tenn
pering Of what the United States
Ct first regarded as a suppressive
dictatorship.
Mr.. Kennedy and the State De-
partment have given some signs
of relenting, and even of admit
ting that the military regime had
to proceed strongly II Korea was
tn he saved