5/20/03

LC030520

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON A SPECIAL EDITION OF LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> WE TAKE YOU TO THE KOREAN PENINSULA WHERE U.S. TROOPS WALK A FINE LINE BETWEEN GUARDING THE PEACE AND PREPARING FOR WAR.

LT. COL. MATTHEW MARGOTTA>> THEY STAND HALF-EXPOSED TO CREATE A SMALLER SIGNATURE, THAT IN CASE A FIREFIGHT DID ERUPT INSIDE THE JOINT SECURITY AREA, IT'S A SMALLER TARGET FOR THE KPA TO SHOOT AT.

VAL>> AND SOME SOUTH KOREANS PROTEST WHITE HOUSE POLICIES EVEN AS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION STRUGGLES TO WIN THEIR SUPPORT.

JESS>> DEFINING MILITARY STRATEGY IN A COUNTRY POISED BETWEEN WAR AND REUNIFICATION.

VAL>> IT'S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> TONIGHT A TRIP TO THE KOREAN PENINSULA.

JESS>> WHERE NORTH AND SOUTH ARE DIVIDED BY MUTUAL SUSPICION, BUT DRAWN TOGETHER BY A COMMON HISTORY. A TENSE STANDOFF BEGAN LAST FALL WHEN NORTH KOREA ADMITTED TO AN ONGOING NUCLEAR PROGRAM. IN THE SAME WEEK THAT THE U.S. WENT TO WAR WITH IRAQ, THE PENTAGON ALSO MOVED BOMBERS WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF NORTH KOREA. BUT IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD, MILITARY STRATEGY INVOLVES EQUAL PARTS OF PEACEKEEPING AND SABER RATTLING. TONIGHT NEWSHOUR CORRESPONDENT, JEFFREY KAYE, REPORTS ON LIFE IN A COUNTRY ON THE BRINK.

JEFFREY KAYE>> IT'S AN EARLY SUNDAY MORNING IN SOUTH KOREA AND IT LOOKS AS IF WAR HAS BROKEN OUT AS OPPOSING TANK AND INFANTRY UNITS WAGE A BATTLE FOR CONTROL OVER A REMOTE RURAL VALLEY ONLY FOURTEEN MILES SOUTH OF THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER.

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JEFFREY KAYE>> BUT THIS BATTLE IS ONLY A GAME, PART OF ANNUAL JOINT U.S. AND SOUTH KOREAN MILITARY EXERCISES CALLED "FOAL EAGLE". THE COLD WAR MAY HAVE ENDED THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE WORLD, BUT IN KOREA IT'S VERY MUCH ALIVE. EACH YEAR, U.S. AND SOUTH KOREAN FORCES HOLD MILITARY EXERCISES. THEY ARE FOR TRAINING, BUT THEY ARE ALSO DESIGNED TO SEND A POWERFUL MESSAGE ABOUT MILITARY MIGHT TO COMMUNIST NORTH KOREA. AMERICA'S ACTIONS ON THIS DIVIDED PENINSULA ARE BEING CLOSELY WATCHED BY THE WORLD AS TENSIONS ESCALATE WITH COMMUNIST NORTH KOREA. SEEKING TO COOL REGIONAL CONCERNS, BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES COGGIN, ASSISTANT COMMANDER OF THE U.S. SECOND INFANTRY DIVISION, INSISTS THESE WAR GAMES ARE ROUTINE.

BRIG. GEN. JAMES COGGIN>> THIS IS AN EXERCISE THAT'S BEEN LONG-STANDING. IT IS NOT A REACTION TO THE EVENTS OF RECENT MONTHS, THE HEIGHTENED TENSIONS. IT IS BEING EXERCISED IN STRIDE AS PART OF OUR ANNUAL TRAINING PLAN.

JEFFREY KAYE>> AS IT HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST FIFTY YEARS OF TURBULENT RELATIONS WITH THE NORTH, THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT IS FULLY PREPARED FOR REAL COMBAT ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA.

LT. GEN. CHARLES CAMPBELL>> WE HAVE TRAINED AND READY FORMATIONS HERE THAT ARE PREPARED TO FIGHT TONIGHT AND, BECAUSE WE HAVE TRAINED AND READY FORMATIONS, WE HAVE CREATED DETERRENCE.

JEFFREY KAYE>> U.S. ARMY LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHARLES CAMPBELL COMMANDS AMERICA'S MAIN FIGHTING FORCE IN SOUTH KOREA, THE U.S. EIGHTH ARMY. WE SPOKE TO HIM AT THE YONGSAN ARMY GARRISON, THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE AMERICAN MILITARY IN SOUTH KOREA.

LT. GEN. CHARLES CAMPBELL>> THE MISSION AT EIGHTH U.S. ARMY AS THE MISSION OF THE UNITED STATES FORCES KOREA IS TO DETER A NORTH KOREAN ATTACK ON SOUTH KOREA AND, IF THAT DETERRENCE FAILS, TO DEFEAT THAT ATTACK.

JEFFREY KAYE>> THE UNITED STATES, WITH 37,000 TROOPS STATIONED IN SOUTH KOREA, HAS PLEDGED TO DEFEND THIS COUNTRY FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS. DURING THAT TIME, THIS NATION OF FORTY-EIGHT MILLION PEOPLE HAS EMERGED FROM THE DEVASTATION OF THE KOREAN WAR AND BUILT ONE OF THE MOST PROSPEROUS SOCIETIES IN THE WORLD.

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JEFFREY KAYE>> ITS FACTORIES CHURN OUT A CORNUCOPIA OF CONSUMER AND INDUSTRIAL GOODS FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. THE U.S. SAYS ITS MILITARY MIGHT HAS MADE POSSIBLE SOUTH KOREA'S RAGS TO RICHES CINDERELLA STORY.

LT. GEN. CHARLES CAMPBELL>> WELL, THERE IS A CLEAR LINKAGE BETWEEN THE PROSPERITY THAT THIS GREAT NATION HAS ENJOYED OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST NUMBER OF DECADES IN THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE CREDIBLE FORWARD PRESENCE OF U.S. FORCES IN A DEMONSTRABLE ABILITY AND RESOLVE AND COMMITMENT TO REINFORCE THOSE FORCES IN THE EVENT THAT CONFLICT BREAKS OUT ON THE PENINSULA.

JEFFREY KAYE>> FEARS OF ARMED CONFLICT IN KOREA ARE GROWING. LAST YEAR, PRESIDENT BUSH LABELED NORTH KOREA ONE OF THE AXIS OF EVIL NATIONS. THE UNITED STATES IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PLACE, NORTH KOREA'S YONGBYON NUCLEAR FACILITY. SEEN HERE IN SATELLITE PHOTOS, U.S. INTELLIGENCE FEARS THE NORTH MIGHT START PRODUCING WEAPONS-GRADE PLUTONIUM AT YONGBYON TO CREATE A NUCLEAR ARSENAL. WASHINGTON BELIEVES THAT NORTH KOREA ALREADY HAS ONE OR TWO ATOMIC WEAPONS. THE U.S. WARNED NORTH KOREA'S SUPREME LEADER, KIM JONG-IL, TO STOP HIS NUCLEAR PROGRAM. NORTH KOREA RESPONDED BY WITHDRAWING FROM THE NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY AND BY EXPELLING U.N. ATOMIC WEAPONS INSPECTORS.

JEFFREY KAYE>> NUCLEAR BLACKMAIL? IS THAT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

THOMAS HUBBARD>> THAT IS ONE WAY OF PUTTING IT.

JEFFREY KAYE>> THOMAS HUBBARD IS BOTH THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH KOREA AND A LEADING ARCHITECT OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS NORTH KOREA. HE SAYS ECONOMIC DESPERATION AND POLITICAL ISOLATION ARE BEHIND NORTH KOREA'S INCREASINGLY LOUD SABER RATTLING.

THOMAS HUBBARD>> CERTAINLY THE NORTH KOREANS HAVE NOT GIVEN UP THEIR EFFORTS TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS. YOU KNOW, THEY SEEM TO BE USING THAT CAPABILITY AS A MEANS OF TRYING TO EXTRACT VARIOUS KINDS OF CONCESSIONS AND EVEN PAYMENT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

HAN PARK>> NORTH KOREANS HAVE ALWAYS FELT THEIR SECURITY THREATENED AND SECURITY IS A REGIME SURVIVAL ITSELF.

JEFFREY KAYE>> POLITICAL SCIENTIST, HAN PARK, IS AN EXPERT ON THE POLITICS OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA. HE SAYS NORTH KOREA, FEELING THREATENED BY THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S DOCTRINE OF PREEMPTIVE WAR, IS AFRAID OF A U.S. INVASION.

HAN PARK>> NORTH KOREANS ARE NOW THINKING THAT THIS IS A PRELUDE TO AMERICAN ATTACK AND I WOULD THINK THAT NORTH KOREANS ARE BELIEVING RIGHT NOW THAT THEY ARE THE NEXT TARGET.

JEFFREY KAYE>> BUT SOUTH KOREAN AND AMERICAN SOLDIERS TRAINED FOR JUST THE OPPOSITE THREAT, THE NORTH'S INVASION OF THE SOUTH.

THOMAS HUBBARD>> THAT'S ALSO A POSSIBILITY. IT WOULD BE SUICIDAL FOR THE NORTH KOREANS BECAUSE WE KNOW WHO WOULD WIN THAT CONFLICT, BUT YOU CAN'T TOTALLY RULE IT OUT.

JEFFREY KAYE>> IF NORTH KOREA INVADED THE SOUTH, ITS FORCES WOULD COME STORMING ACROSS THIS PLACE, THE 155-MILE-LONG DEMILITARIZED ZONE, OR DMZ, THAT SEPARATES THE TWO KOREAS. THE DMZ IS A GEOPOLITICAL TWILIGHT ZONE BORDERED BY BARBED WIRE FENCES, MINE FIELDS AND COUNTLESS WATCH TOWERS, PILLBOXES AND BUNKERS. THE AGREEMENT THAT ESTABLISHED THE DMZ WAS NOT A PEACE TREATY. IT WAS AN ARMISTICE, A CEASE FIRE SIGNED BY MILITARY COMMANDERS. TECHNICALLY, NORTH KOREA AND SOUTH KOREA ARE STILL AT WAR.

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JEFFREY KAYE>> THE HAND-PICKED SOUTH KOREAN AND AMERICAN SOLDIERS SELECTED TO STAND GUARD ALONG THE DMZ TRAIN AS IF CONFLICT COULD COME AT ANY MOMENT. PANMUNJON'S SECURITY AREA WHERE THE ARMISTICE WAS SIGNED THAT ENDED THE KOREAN WAR IS THE ONLY PLACE ALONG THE DMZ WHERE OPPOSING SIDES REGULARLY COME FACE TO FACE. HERE SOUTH KOREAN AND U.S. SOLDIERS STAND VIGIL AGAINST NORTH KOREAN'S PEOPLES ARMY, OR KPA SOLDIERS. WE WERE GIVEN A TOUR OF THIS IDEOLOGICAL FAULT LINE BY ARMY LIEUTENANT COLONEL MATTHEW MARGOTTA. HE COMMANDS U.S. AND SOUTH KOREAN MILITARY FORCES IN THE PANMUNJON AREA. HE SAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF HOSTILE STARES TURNING INTO HOSTILE FIRE IS ALWAYS A DANGER AT THE DMZ.

JEFFREY KAYE>> WHY DO THESE GUYS STAND LIKE THIS?

LT. COL. MATTHEW MARGOTTA>> THEY STAND HALF-EXPOSED TO CREATE A SMALLER SIGNATURE, THAT IN CASE A FIREFIGHT DID ERUPT INSIDE THE JOINT SECURITY AREA, IT'S A SMALLER TARGET FOR THE KPA TO SHOOT AT.

JEFFREY KAYE>> TO PREVENT AN INCIDENT FROM ESCALATING INTO AN ALL-OUT WAR, SOLDIERS STATIONED HERE MUST FOLLOW A STRICT CODE OF CONDUCT.

LT. COL. MATTHEW MARGOTTA>> OUR RULES OF ENGAGEMENT ARE GENERALLY GOVERNED BY TWO BASIC PREMISES. ONE, THE RIGHT OF SELF-DEFENSE. IF OUR SOLDIERS FEEL THREATENED, WE DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO RESPOND TO THAT TO INCLUDE THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION, THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE KPA AND THE POTENTIAL FOR INCIDENTS TO OCCUR IN THIS AREA, OUR RULES OF ENGAGEMENT ARE ALSO GOVERNED BY TRYING NOT TO ESCALATE ANY TYPE OF PROVOCATION. SO THE SOLDIERS WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WITHOUT ESCALATING IT INTO A MUCH GREATER CONFLICT.

JEFFREY KAYE>> CONCERNED ABOUT THE SMALLEST CHANCE OF MISCOMMUNICATION AND INTERPRETATION, VISITORS INCLUDING OURSELVES ARE ASKED NOT TO WAVE OR GESTURE AT THE NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS. WHILE WE WERE SHOOTING, A GROUP OF VIPS ARRIVED ON THE NORTH KOREAN SIDE ESCORTED BY A GROUP OF SOLDIERS. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF ANY OF THESE PEOPLE DECIDED TO BOLT ACROSS THE LINE?

LT. COL. MATTHEW MARGOTTA>> TWO THINGS. ONE, THE KPA GUARDS THAT YOU SEE OUT THERE WOULD ATTEMPT TO STOP THEM. IF THEY DID MANAGE TO SET FOOT ACROSS THE LINE THAT DESIGNATES THE MILITARY DEMARCATION LINE, OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO AFFORD THEM THE SAME PROTECTION THAT WE WOULD ANY SOUTH KOREAN CITIZEN, ANY GUEST OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMAND. AS SOON AS THEY VOICE THEIR INTENTION TO DEFECT, MY SOLDIERS WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PROTECT THEM, SECURE THEM, MOVE THEM OUT OF THE AREA EVEN IF IT MEANT FIGHTING AGAINST THE KPA.

JEFFREY KAYE>> THE DMZ MIGHT BE A POLITICAL NO-MAN'S-LAND WHERE THE FIRST SHOTS OF A DEVASTATING WAR COULD BE FIRED, BUT IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE WORLD'S MORE SURREAL TOURIST ATTRACTION. EVERY DAY, BUSES FROM SEOUL PULL UP HERE BRINGING VISITORS WHO COME ARMED WITH CAMERAS. FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEY TAKE SNAPSHOTS AND GAWK AT A SURVIVING FRONTLINE OF THE COLD WAR. THE VIPS ON THE NORTH KOREAN SIDE OF THIS POLITICAL CHASM DO THE SAME THING.

LT. COL. MATTHEW MARGOTTA>> THE MAIN BASE FOR ONE OF THE DIVISIONS IS JUST -- SEE THOSE WHITE BUILDINGS OUT THERE?

JEFFREY KAYE>> ON A HILLTOP JUST WEST OF THE JOINT SECURITY AREA, YOU CAN GAZE MILES INTO NORTH KOREA, A NATION THAT'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS A MODERN-DAY HERMIT KINGDOM. THE CLOSEST NORTH KOREAN COMMUNITY IS KIJONGDONG. IN AN EXPRESSION OF ONE-UPSMANSHIP, ITS SKYLINE IS DOMINATED BY THE WORLD'S TALLEST FLAGPOLE FLYING A MAMMOTH NORTH KOREAN BANNER. MARGOTTA SAYS THAT, EVEN FROM THIS LIMITED VANTAGE POINT, ONE GETS A GLIMPSE OF THE DESPERATE CONDITIONS OF LIFE IN NORTH KOREA.

LT. COL. MATTHEW MARGOTTA>> THE KOREAN WINTER IS EXTREMELY HARSH. I MEAN, IT GETS VERY COLD UP HERE. THERE ARE A VARIETY OF GUARD POSTS AND A VARIETY OF BUILDINGS ALL THROUGHOUT THIS AREA AND, DURING THE WINTERTIME, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO HEAT SIGNATURE WHATSOEVER COMING FROM ANY OF THOSE BUILDINGS. ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE GUARD POSTS AND NONE OF THE VILLAGES THAT WE CAN SEE RIGHT UP HERE ALONG THE BORDER AT NIGHT ARE PITCH BLACK. THERE'S NO LIGHTS, NO ELECTRICITY.

JEFFREY KAYE>> NORTH KOREA MIGHT BE AN ECONOMIC BASKET CASE, BUT IT FIELDS A FORMIDABLE MILITARY MACHINE, ONE THAT COULD PUT UP A FEROCIOUS FIGHT AGAINST U.S. AND SOUTH KOREAN FORCES IF WAR ERUPTED.

LT. GEN. CHARLES CAMPBELL>> THE FACTS ARE THAT THEY ARE THE WORLD'S FIFTH LARGEST ARMED FORCE, THEY HAVE THE WORLD'S THIRD LARGEST STANDING ARMY IN NUMBERS MORE THAN A MILLION, THEY HAVE PROBABLY 1,700 OR SO AIRCRAFT, THEY HAVE SEVEN HUNDRED OR SO NAVAL VESSELS AND IMBEDDED WITHIN THAT NUMBER IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST SUBMARINE FORCE. THEY HAVE THE WORLD'S LARGEST ARTILLERY FORCE AND THEY ARE A FORWARD POSITION. SO IT IS A CREDIBLE, CAPABLE FORCE THAT WE CONFRONT.

LT. COL. MATTHEW MARGOTTA>> IN THE AIR THAT YOU SEE HERE, JUST IN THE PANORAMA, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY THREE KOREAN INFANTRY DIVISIONS WITH ABOUT 45,000 TROOPS, AS WELL AS FIVE ARTILLERY BRIGADES JUST ON THE BACKSIDE OF THOSE HILLS.

JEFFREY KAYE>> LONG-RANGE ARTILLERY?

LT. COL. MATTHEW MARGOTTA>> LONG-RANGE ARTILLERY. ON THE BACKSIDE OF THESE HILLS YOU SEE HERE, THEY HAVE WHAT ARE CALLED UNDERGROUND FACILITIES WHERE THE ARTILLERY PIECES ARE COMPLETELY INSIDE THE MOUNTAINS. WHAT THE ARTILLERY PIECES DO, THE DOORS OPEN, THE ARTILLERY COMES OUT, CAN FIRE, AND GO RIGHT BACK INSIDE THE MOUNTAIN.

JEFFREY KAYE>> AND ONLY THIRTY-FIVE MILES SOUTH OF THE DMZ SITS METROPOLITAN SEOUL, A VAST CITY OF FOURTEEN MILLION PEOPLE THAT'S THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL HEART OF SOUTH KOREA. MILITARY PLANNERS EXPECT THIS CITY TO BE STRUCK BY A WITHERING BARRAGE OF NORTH KOREAN ARTILLERY AND MISSILE FIRE.

LT. GEN. CHARLES CAMPBELL>> IF YOU DO GO TO CONFLICT ON THE PENINSULA, THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF SOUTH KOREANS THAT ARE KILLED AS A RESULT OF ARTILLERY FIRING IN SEOUL.

JEFFREY KAYE>> THE U.S. AND SOUTH KOREAN MILITARIES WHICH PLAN AND TRAIN TOGETHER DURING TIMES OF PEACE WOULD FIGHT TOGETHER IN A WAR. THEY ARE BETTING THAT SUPERIOR TECHNOLOGY AND PREPARATION WOULD TRUMP NORTH KOREA'S NUMERICAL SUPERIORITY IN SOLDIERS. THESE APACHE HELICOPTERS AND THEIR PILOTS ARE EXAMPLES OF SUCH ADVANTAGES. THESE CHOPPERS ARE ESSENTIALLY FLYING TANKS. IN A CONFLICT, THEY WOULD BE USED TO STRAFE ADVANCING NORTH KOREAN ARMORED COLUMNS.

CAPT. ALLEN HAHN>> IF THE ENEMY TRIED TO COME ACROSS, OUR PRIMARY ROLE IS TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T COME INTO THE AREA. WE'RE A QUICK REACTION FORCE. WE CAN GO IN, WE CAN KEEP THEM ON THEIR SIDE OF THE BORDER, WE CAN SLOW THEM DOWN TO GET BOTH THE KOREAN ARMY AND OUR ARMY UP TO SPEED SO WE CAN GET IN AND KEEP IT CONTAINED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

JEFFREY KAYE>> HOW DO THESE PILOTS THINK THEY AND THEIR DEADLY MACHINES WOULD STAND UP AGAINST POTENTIAL NORTH KOREAN ADVERSARIES?

CAPT. ALLEN HAHN>> THERE IS NO COMPARISON. NONE.

JEFFREY KAYE>> MEANING WHAT?

CAPT ALLEN HAHN>> OUR EQUIPMENT IS FAR BETTER. WE KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE. WE HAVE SYSTEMS ONBOARD THAT HELP PROTECT US. WE KNOW HOW TO STAY OUT OF SIGHT OF THEM. WE KNOW HOW TO -- JUST USING THE RADAR SYSTEM ON MY AIRCRAFT ALONE, I CAN SEND A RADAR FORWARD. I CAN LEAVE MY SHOOTERS BACK AND WE CAN GET A GOOD PICTURE OF THE BATTLEFIELD. WE HAVE WAYS OF DEFEATING THEIR EQUIPMENT.

JEFFREY KAYE>> BUT ONE WORRY IS THAT NORTH KOREA MIGHT USE ITS VAST ARSENALS OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

SPC. JOSEPH PERRY>> YOU'RE DEAD AND YOU'RE DEFINITELY DEAD (LAUGHTER). I MEAN, YOUR HEAD HARNESS? YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE IT'S PULLED OVER SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO SLIP IT ON LIKE YOU WERE, LIKE A SHOWER CAP OR NOTHING LIKE THAT.

JEFFREY KAYE>> U.S. SOLDIERS STATIONED HERE REGULARLY TRAIN TO FIGHT IN A COMBAT ENVIRONMENT SOAKED IN CHEMICALS AND GERMS.

SPC. JOSEPH PERRY>> THIS PREPARES YOU FOR IT. IF THERE IS A NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL ATTACK, YOU'LL STILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ALL MISSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HANDED DOWN TO YOU AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT, AFTER THE MISSION IS ACCOMPLISHED, YOU CAN STILL MAKE IT BACK TO DECON YOURSELF AND ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT.

JEFFREY KAYE>> DECONTAMINATE?

SPC. JOSEPH PERRY>> DECONTAMINATE YOURSELF SO THAT YOU WILL BE ALIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY (LAUGHTER).

JEFFREY KAYE>> IF WAR FLARED ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA, IT WOULD BE A BLOODY AND BRUTAL AFFAIR, ADMITS MILITARY PLANNERS, WITH MASS ARMIES CLASHING IN A CONFINED AND POPULATED CORNER OF ASIA. IF WAR CAME, SOUTH KOREAN AND U.S. FORCES WOULD HAVE TO HALT NORTH KOREA'S BLITZKRIEG-LIKE ATTACK ACROSS THE DMZ.

LT. GEN. CHARLES CAMPBELL>> WAR ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA WILL BE AS WAR ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA HAS ALWAYS BEEN. IT WILL BE VIOLENT AND IT WILL RESULT IN LARGE NUMBERS OF CASUALTIES, BOTH TO THOSE THAT SERVE IN UNIFORM AND TO THOSE THAT ARE IMPACTED IN THE CIVILIAN POPULATION. BUT IF IT COMES TO WAR, THE OUTCOME IS NOT IN DOUBT. THE OUTCOME IS NOT IN DOUBT. WE WILL DEFEAT THE NORTH KOREANS.

JEFFREY KAYE>> AND U.S. WAR PLANS CALL FOR ENDING THE CONFLICT BY ENDING THE RULE OF NORTH KOREA'S LEADERS.

LT. GEN. CHARLES CAMPBELL>> THE DECISIVE WIN PLAN ENVISIONS REGIME CHANGE AND THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THAT CAMPAIGN.

JEFFREY KAYE>> AS THE UNITED STATES PREPARES FOR A POSSIBLE WAR IN KOREA, IT'S ALSO ENGAGED IN A PEACETIME STRUGGLE, A CONTEST FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE SOUTH KOREAN PEOPLE. A GROWING NUMBER OF SOUTH KOREANS, PARTICULARLY THE YOUNG, VIEW THE U.S. NOT AS A LOYAL FRIEND, BUT AS AN UNWANTED INTERLOPER, ONE WHICH STANDS IN THE WAY OF BETTER RELATIONS BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA. THOSE SENTIMENTS WERE RECENTLY ON DISPLAY AT THIS MASSIVE PROTEST ON THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN SEOUL. THE DEMONSTRATORS CAME OUT TO PROTEST BOTH AMERICA'S WAR IN IRAQ AND AMERICA'S MILITARY ROLE IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY.

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JEFFREY KAYE>> TENSIONS WERE HEIGHTENED LAST YEAR AFTER TWO AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO RAN OVER AND KILLED TWO SOUTH KOREAN GIRLS WERE ACQUITTED IN A U.S. MILITARY COURT. WE TALKED TO A GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED THE MARCH ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS TOWARDS AMERICA.

>> MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT U.S. FORCES IN KOREA SHOULD PULL OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

>> THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT WANTS TO ENGAGE WITH NORTH KOREA, BUT POLITICALLY THEY ARE NOT FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT OPENLY HATES NORTH KOREA AND ITS LEADER, KIM JONG-IL.

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JEFFREY KAYE>> THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ARGUES THAT THESE PROTESTORS REPRESENT ONLY A SMALL IF LOUD FRACTION OF SOUTH KOREAN PUBLIC OPINION.

THOMAS HUBBARD>> I THINK A SMALL MINORITY OF SOUTH KOREANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN SOUTH KOREA AND I THINK THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, EIGHTY OR NINETY PERCENT OF SOUTH KOREANS, WANT THE U.S. MILITARY TO REMAIN A PRESENCE HERE.

JEFFREY KAYE>> BUT DISCUSSIONS ARE UNDERWAY BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND SEOUL THAT COULD LEAD TO SOME REDUCTION IN AMERICA'S MILITARY PRESENCE IN SOUTH KOREA.

THOMAS HUBBARD>> THESE TALKS WILL LOOK AT WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE MIX OF U.S. FORCES IN KOREA, WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN U.S. FORCES AND SOUTH KOREAN FORCES AND THEIR COMMANDS. IT WILL LOOK AT OUR FOOTPRINT HERE, WHERE WE HAVE OUR BASES, HOW MANY BASES WE SHOULD HAVE AND IT WILL LOOK AT THE OVERALL NUMBERS.

JEFFREY KAYE>> EVEN SOUTH KOREAN POLITICAL LEADERS WHO FAVOR A STRONG U.S.-SOUTH KOREAN ALLIANCE ADVOCATE A CHANGE IN THE NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP. SOUTH KOREA'S NEW PRESIDENT, ROH MOO-HYUN, WAS ELECTED ON A PROMISE THAT HIS COUNTRY ACT LESS LIKE A JUNIOR PARTNER AND MORE LIKE AN EQUAL OF THE U.S. AT SOUTH KOREA'S NATIONAL LEGISLATURE, WE SPOKE ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ASSEMBLYMAN YOO JAY KUN, A CLOSE ALLY OF THE SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT.

YOO JAY KUN>> MANY PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP THAT'S CHANGED, BUT THAT'S A QUITE NATURAL PROCESS. YOU KNOW, RELATIONSHIPS OF COUNTRIES ARE JUST LIKE AMERICAN COUPLES' RELATIONSHIP. IT'S NOT STATIC. IT'S THE DYNAMIC THINGS. SO THE RELATIONSHIP MUST BE NURTURED AND PROMOTED AND ADVANCED AND DEVELOPED.

JEFFREY KAYE>> ONE CHALLENGE CONFRONTING THE UNITED STATES IS HOW TO RESPOND TO THE SUNSHINE POLICY, SOUTH KOREA'S INCREASINGLY DRAMATIC, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC OVERTURES TO NORTH KOREA. THEY RANGE FROM BUILDING RAIL AND ROAD CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE DMZ TO ENCOURAGING SOUTH KOREA'S INDUSTRIAL GOLIATH SUCH AS THE HYUNDAI GROUP TO INVEST IN THE NORTH. SUPPORTERS OF THE SUNSHINE POLICY EXPECT THESE INITIATIVES WILL NOT ONLY REDUCE TENSIONS ON THE PENINSULA, BUT ALSO USHER IN THE EVENTUAL REUNIFICATION OF THE TWO KOREAS.

YOO JAY KUN>> WE SHOULD GET TOGETHER, NORTH AND SOUTH. SAME LANGUAGE, SAME PEOPLE, SAME CUSTOMS.

JEFFREY KAYE>> BUT TO GET TOGETHER WITH A COUNTRY THAT'S THREATENING TO ATTACK YOU?

YOO JAY KUN>> WELL, NORTH KOREA WANTS TO UNIFY WITH FORCE, BUT SOUTH KOREA, WE LIKE TO UNIFY WITH THEM WITH THE SUNSHINE POLICY, OR ENGAGEMENT POLICY, THAT HELPS THEM TO DEVELOP THEIR ECONOMIC SITUATION AND CONDITION. WE JUST LIKE TO HELP THEM TO SPREADING THEIR COMMUNITY SOME SORT OF DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND FREE MARKET SYSTEM TYPE. IT, OF COURSE, WILL TAKE SOME TIME, BUT WE JUST, AS A LONG GOAL, WE'D LIKE TO HELP THEM OUT, SO WE LIKE TO UNIFY NORTH AND SOUTH PEACEFULLY, NOT FORCEFULLY.

JEFFREY KAYE>> THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT SUPPORTS STEPS TOWARDS THE CREATION OF A UNIFIED KOREA, BUT AMBASSADOR HUBBARD ADMITS THAT WASHINGTON AND SEOUL WILL NOT ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE WHEN IT COMES TO NORTH KOREA, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF AMERICA'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE THREATS OF TERRORISM AND NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION.

THOMAS HUBBARD>> BOTH WE AND THE SOUTH KOREANS SEE NORTH KOREA THROUGH, IN EFFECT, TWO PRISMS. ONE, YOU KNOW, PENINSULA REGIONAL SECURITY, THE OTHER BEING THIS GLOBAL THREAT TO THE GLOBAL NONPROLIFERATION SYSTEM AND CONCERN ABOUT TERRORISM. SOUTH KOREANS TEND TO PROBABLY PUT THE MAJOR EMPHASIS ON WHAT IS NEAREST TO THEM. WE, OF COURSE, ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT TOO, BUT WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THIS GLOBAL THREAT AND THAT CONCERN HAS BEEN HEIGHTENED SINCE 9/11.

JEFFREY KAYE>> MORE THAN ANYTHING, SOUTH KOREANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AVOIDING AN EVEN BLOODIER REPETITION OF THE FIRST KOREAN WAR. THAT THREE-YEAR CONFLICT CLAIMED THE LIVES OF OVER TWO MILLION KOREANS AS WELL AS NEARLY 37,000 U.S. SOLDIERS. WHATEVER THEIR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES, KOREANS ARE UNITED BY MEMORIES OF THE BLOODIEST EPISODE IN KOREAN HISTORY. THE CHALLENGE FOR THE GENERALS AND THE DIPLOMATS IS TO KEEP THE GUNS SILENT AND MAINTAIN THE PEACE ON THIS TROUBLED PENINSULA. IF THEY DON'T, THE COSTS OF ANOTHER KOREAN WAR COULD BE INCALCULABLE.

JESS>> THE STEALTH BOMBERS SENT TO SOUTH KOREA FOR WAR GAMES ARE STILL THERE, EVEN THOUGH THE MILITARY EXERCISE HAS ENDED. THESE ARE THE SAME AIRCRAFT THAT OPENED THE WAR WITH IRAQ WITH A BOMBING RUN INTENDED TO KILL SADDAM HUSSEIN. A DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE IDEA IS TO MAKE NORTH KOREA REALIZE THE U.S. IS COMMITTING THE SAME TYPES OF RESOURCES IN KOREA THAT WERE USED WITH GREAT EFFECTIVENESS IN IRAQ.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, ANOTHER SIDE OF LIFE ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA, THE PUSH TO REUNITE NORTH AND SOUTH.

JEFFREY KAYE>> ARE YOU AFRAID OF NORTH KOREA?

>> NO, NO.

JEFFREY KAYE>> YOU'RE NOT AFRAID OF NORTH KOREA?

>> I'M NOT AT ALL BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE JUST ALL FAMILY, RELATIVE, AND SOMEDAY WE WILL REUNITE.

VAL>> A REMINDER THAT YOU CAN FIND TRANSCRIPTS OR HEAR AUDIO OF RECENT LIFE AND TIMES PROGRAMS. JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG.

JESS>> AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

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