U.S. seeks Korea's help on ICC protocol

The United States has called for Korea`s cooperation with regard to the International Criminal Court, for which 120 countries around the world agreed on execution of individuals, regardless of their nationality, who are involved in mass murder, war crimes or crimes that are contrary to morality, so that it could have exceptions that reflect the U.S. position.According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, U.S. Secretary of State Madelein Albright, who visited Korea on June 23, has made such a request during talks with her counterpart Lee Jung-Bin, saying that there is a risk that U.S. military personnel involved in peacekeeping activities in the troubled regions around the world could be accused because of political purposes.An official of the ministry said that the United States contends that there should be an exception that the ICC may not accuse a person on criminal charges if his or her home country does not agree to it. However, it does not comply with the intention of establishing the ICC, which calls for punishing individuals who commit crimes that are contrary to morality, by international courts, he said.He also noted that Korea understands the U.S. position as a friendly nation but that it hardly can accept such a request, as Korea actively supported ICC`s foundation.The ICC is in the process of establishment under the Rome Agreement, in which 120 countries of the 127 participating countries, except China, Israel and the United States, agreed. If more than 60 of the participating countries ratify the agreement, its headquarters will be established in the Hague, the Netherlands