U.S. Against Any Use of Military to Curb Protests, Official Tells Chun

Gaston J. Sigur, the State Department’s top Asia specialist, said here today that he has told President Chun Doo Hwan the United States opposes “any use of the (South Korean) armed forces” to suppress protests in South Korea.

But when asked whether he had received assurances that the military will not be deployed, he replied: “All I can tell you on that is that our position is crystal clear. We oppose martial law. We would hate to see anything like that happen. Any use of the armed forces in this situation, in our view, is unwarranted.”

Sigur, assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific, said that “I did, indeed,” make that statement to Chun.

Speaking at a press conference at Kimpo airport shortly before he returned to Washington, Sigur was asked about a comment made Wednesday by Edwin Derwinski, an undersecretary of state, that South Korean officials had assured him that the armed forces would not be used.

“I’m delighted that he did” receive such assurances, he said.

Asked if he had not been given similar assurances, Sigur said: “I wouldn’t go beyond what I said.”

Sigur also said that in view of the “recent history” of South Korea, “one can’t just totally dismiss” the possibility of a coup. “But I do not see that in the cards at all,” he added.

In a statement, Sigur declared that “the United States wants for Korea what the Korean people want: a democratic and stable society, a freely elected government which enjoys the support of its people and respects their rights.”

A reporter asked if he meant that the Chun government was one that was not freely elected and supported by the people.

“Obviously, when we say we want to see the democratic process proceed,” Sigur replied, “we want to see changes made to assure that a working democracy is developed here. That obviously means that you have to have changes from the way it is now.”

Sigur, who said he would report to President Reagan immediately after arriving in Washington, said he hoped that “the dialogue (between Chun and main opposition leader Kim Young Sam) that began (Wednesday) will continue.”