Reagan downplayed rights in S.Korea meet: documents

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Months after South Korean troops killed demonstrators in Gwangju, US president Ronald Reagan's aides made a concerted bid not to stress human rights with leader Chun Doo-Hwan, documents show.

Reagan, who took office in January 1981 with a mission to fight communism, invited the military ruler as one of his first guests in the White House and offered strong support to the ally against communist North Korea.

In a newly declassified document, national security adviser Richard Allen said Chun's visit was a success as Reagan managed to support Chun without giving "fulsome praise" that would have drawn "heavy press criticism" at home.

"Human rights survives as a concept, but in a broadened context," Allen wrote in a confidential memo to Reagan. It was released by the National Security Archive at George Washington University.

Chun helped lead a December 1979 coup, shortly after the assassination of strongman Park Chung-Hee. In May 1980, troops in the southern city in Gwangju opened fire on pro-democracy protesters, killing at least 154 people.

Bob Wampler, who is researching the documents, said the episode led to lasting Continue reading the remaining 50% ...