Reagan Accents the Positive, Praises S. Korea for Political Relaxation

Adopting a technique that psychologists call “positive reinforcement,” President Reagan on Friday praised the South Korean government for relaxing political restrictions and cheered President Chun Doo Hwan’s announced plan to preside over a peaceful transition of power in 1988.

U.S. officials glossed over the Seoul regime’s remaining restraints on human rights in recounting Reagan’s meeting with Chun over lunch at the White House.

“President Chun explained the steps his government has taken to further promote freedom and democracy,” Reagan said during a brief public ceremony after the meeting. “I welcomed the considerable progress that has already been made and expressed continuing support for such steps, which are contributing to the attainment of political progress.

“I reiterated our support for President Chun’s commitment to a peaceful transfer of power at the end of his term in 1988,” Reagan added.

‘Lot of Sorting Out’

A senior Administration official said later that there has never been a peaceful transition in South Korean history and “the whole idea of compromise and the tumult of democratic politics is not something you can take for granted” in that nation.

“There is a lot of sorting out that will have to take place between now and 1988,” added the official, who asked not to be identified by name. “There has to be a lot of give on the government’s side--there has to be relaxation of restrictions of the type we have seen in recent months.”

When reporters asked about alleged abuses, the official said, “We feel that a lot of progress has been made--obviously we wouldn’t be talking about progress if we didn’t see the need for (more) progress.”

On other topics, Reagan assured Chun of continuing U.S. support for South Korea’s security and urged Seoul to open South Korean markets to an increased flow of U.S. imports, the official said.

Chun Welcomes Support

After the meeting, Chun said: “I am convinced that the firm determination of the United States, including cooperation with Korea, will resolutely cope with any military adventurism or terrorist attacks of North Korea against the peace of this region. President Reagan and I also agreed that the expansion of trade based on the principles of free trade is important to the development of the world economy and that we will continue to strengthen our efforts to this end.”

The United States is running a $4.2-billion-a-year trade deficit in its transactions with South Korea. U.S. exports to South Korea totaled $5.8 billion last year, compared to $10 billion in imports of such commodities as textiles and consumer electronics.

The U.S. official said Chun “emphasized that Korea is not another Japan--its commitment to free trade is much deeper.”

Reagan referred to the Washington-Seoul security ties as “a linchpin of peace in Northeast Asia.”

Concerned About North

The President added that he and Chun are concerned about North Korea’s continuing program of moving its forces southward toward the demilitarized zone. “We agreed that this deployment heightens the need for vigilance on our part,” he said.

The senior U.S. official said that North Korea appears to be increasing its military capability at the same time it is considering for the first time possible moves to relax tensions with the south.

The official also said that Reagan pledged U.S. support for South Korea’s recent efforts to relax tensions with Communist North Korea. In addition, Reagan said Washington would not attempt to deal independently with North Korea.

A new round of trade talks between North and South is scheduled for next month at the border village of Panmunjom. The U.S. official said that the talks represent some softening in hostility between the two Korean nations but that progress “will be like melting a glacier.”