I've just returned from a week-long trip to South Korea, where I had the opportunity to make a presentation to the Korea Foundation regarding the North Korean threat, as well as have a series of consultative meetings with a range of South Korean and U.S. military and civilian leaders.

On this "Pearl Harbor Day," we are all reminded of the sacrifices of our military heroes on that fateful day. We are also reminded that as a result of that war and America's unwavering security commitments following it (including the Korean War), today we have two really great allies in the northeast Asia region of the Pacific -- South Korea (12th largest economy in the world) and Japan (third largest economy in the world).

So, why does Korea matter, and by supporting South Korea should we continue risking our involvement in another Korean Peninsula conflict? From my assessment the answer is a resounding "Korea matters and, yes, South Korea is worth fighting for." Let me explain.

First, South Korea is, indeed, an economic powerhouse (our 7th largest trading partner ahead of even France); yet it is a very small place. The country itself is about the size of Indiana, yet half of it is uninhabitable due to mountainous terrain. So, a small country half the size of Indiana is the world's 12th largest economy and our 7th largest trading partner. Talk about a work ethic!

Second, today South Korea is firmly committed to free enterprise, democracy, freedom and liberty. Having this example of the most fundamental of American principles firmly established on the east Asian mainland is good for us -- very good.

Next, it's a bit hard to imagine but true nonetheless -- South Korea is sandwiched between China on its west and Japan off its east shore. Indeed, Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is closer to Beijing than it is to Tokyo. So, one of our very best friends in the world is just over the hill from the capital of China. This positioning makes South Korea a very important place geographically, politically, diplomatically and indeed from a security perspective.

Last, South Korea offers us the only place ashore in east Asia where American forces are garrisoned. Their purpose there is to meet our Alliance obligations established in the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty signed by both countries.

In this regard, our forces, along with the excellent South Korean military, have deterred North Korean aggression for the past 57 years since the signing of the Armistice Agreement following the Korean War.

Additionally and importantly, our forces there send a strong message to all players in the region (including China to the west and Russia which borders North Korea in the northeast) that America has vital economic and security interests in the area, and that we are prepared to defend them if necessary.

As America and South Korea posture to defuse or indeed defend South Korea from re-emerging North Korea provocations, I would offer that we should never forget, for even a second, that we owe our South Korean brothers and sisters our help in a very troubled area of the world.

The recovery of our economy and its future expansion depend in no small way on stable and open markets in east Asia. Sticking by our South Korean friend and sending strong messages of national power to potential troublemakers in the region will help keep the area free and aggressively trading with American business and industry. This is good and something worth fighting for if ever again necessary.

General (Retired) B.B. Bell
bbbell12@yahoo.com