“This is not how allies deal with each other.”

Just how bad are things between the United States and South Korea these days?

“As the talks went on, Mr. Powell stiffened. Mr. Yoon practically told him that Seoul would link the nuclear issue with the troop dispatch,” the official said. The New York Times reported that South Korea had told the United States it would not consider sending more troops to Iraq unless Washington made a concession to Pyeongyang. South Korean officials said later, however, that Mr. Yoon’s message was not that strong. ”

At the meeting, Mr. Yoon read Seoul’s instructions, and he handed a book, “Crisis on the Korean Peninsula: How to Deal with a Nuclear North Korea,” to Mr. Powell.” The book was written by Michael O’Hanlon and Mike Mochizuki, two U.S. foreign policy analysts. “The book argued for comprehensive resolution of the North Korean issues,” the official said. “After listening to Mr. Yoon’s explanation, Mr. Powell became extremely angry.” U.S. media quoted Mr. Powell as curtly telling Mr. Yoon at the talks, “That is not how allies deal with each other.”

The Yoon-Powell meeting had continuing effects. The atmosphere at the South Korea-U.S.-Japan talks on Sept. 29-30, 2003, to coordinate the North Korea’s nuclear issue was also tense.

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