U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Kathleen Stephens wrote in a recent blog posting that she was "impressed" by South Korea's response to the unfolding crisis in Japan following last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami.
In Thursday's posting (http://cafe.daum.net/usembassy) titled "Our Thoughts and Our Prayers are with the People of Japan," Stephens
offered her condolences to the Japanese people and shared her thoughts on South Korea's efforts to salvage the quake-stricken nation.
"Here in Korea, I have been impressed by the rapid and serious response by the Korean government and Korean people in seeking to help
its neighbor Japan," she wrote.
The overwhelming human and material losses from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami have moved South Koreans to put aside lingering
resentment over Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, with many joining nationwide campaigns for relief funds and supplies
for the victims.
"I understand that Korea's 102-member rescue team was truly the 'first-response' team from outside Japan. We must all continue to work
together to support the people in Japan in overcoming this disaster," the ambassador wrote.
The rescue team plus five other rescue workers who were sent in advance has been recovering bodies and searching for survivors in some of the worst-hit areas of Sendai and Tagajo in Migayi Prefecture since earlier this week.
Stephens also expressed her admiration and respect for the Japanese people's striking display of calm and order, which has been widely reported in foreign media.
"The Japanese people have inspired us all with their courage, dignity and determination," she wrote.
Quoting the words of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, she added, "Japan is always a very generous donor to any disaster anywhere in the world, and today, the world comes together to support Japan in its hour of need."