§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the United Nations Security Council has discussed the South Korean contribution to the costs of maintaining United States troops stationed in South Korea under the auspices of the United Nations, which contribution the United States has recently proposed should be increased. [HL454]
§ Baroness Ramsay of CartvaleUnited States troops are based in South Korea in peacetime under US national command arrangements and a bilateral cost sharing agreement between the US and ROK governments. The US authorities do not involve the UN Security Council in these arrangements. The annual report by the United Nations Command to the Security Council only covers the United Nations Command.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the United Nations Security Council or the United Nations Secretary-General are informed when United States troops present in South Korea under United Nations auspices undertake military exercises either alone or together with other forces such as the Japanese Self-Defence Forces. [HL455]
§ Baroness Ramsay of CartvaleThe US troops based in Korea are part of the US national peacetime command structure. They conduct exercises under US national arrangements, and are not under United Nations Command in peacetime. Neither the UN Security Council nor the UN Secretary-General are, therefore, involved in military exercises or their planning.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of the European Union's substantial contribution to the Korea Energy Development Organisation (KEDO), and of the United Nations' auspices under which United States forces are currently in South Korea, they will ensure the United States Administration is aware of their views during the current "Review of policy towards North Korea", which is being conducted by former United States Secretary of Defense, William Perry. [HL456]
§ Baroness Ramsay of CartvaleHer Majesty's Government maintain close contact with the United States in both Washington and Seoul concerning the Korean peninsula. The United States Government is well informed of our views.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they support the "sunshine policy" now being pursued by the Government of South Korea towards North Korea. [HL459]
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§ Baroness Ramsay of CartvaleHer Majesty's Government strongly support President Kim Dae-jung's policy of engagement towards North Korea.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they support the United States plan to maintain a permanent military presence in South Korea in the event of reunification on the Korean peninsula; whether the American troops would be under the United Nations Command as are the United States troops currently based in South Korea; and whether the United Nations Security Council will examine the plan. [HL516]
§ Baroness Ramsay of CartvaleThe possible stationing of US forces on the Korean peninsula in the event of reunification would be a matter for the United States and the Koreans to resolve.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Rimpac exercises carried out in the vicinity of the Korean peninsula in July 1998 involved the United Nations Command in South Korea; and whether they consider that these exercises contributed to the solution of the problems of the Korean peninsula. [HL517]
§ Baroness Ramsay of CartvaleThe Rimpac exercise in July 1998 did not involve the United Nations Command. The exercise was not designed to address the problems of the Korean peninsula.