The South Korean ambassador to the U. S., Han Sung-Joo, who was scheduled to join the panel, cancelled his appearance after his flight from Washington was grounded in New York.

Ha-Won Lee, a political reporter for the South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo, who is currently a research fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, stood in for Han.

KSG Dean Joseph S. Nye Jr., who moderated the panel, said that Han’s absence had prevented what “was about to be the reunion of a foursome that first got together in 1994,” when Han served as South Korea’s foreign minister, Carter and Nye worked at the Pentagon, and Hubbard worked as a deputy assistant secretary of state.

At that time, American and South Korean officers were mulling military action to thwart Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.

“We were sure that we could destroy the North Korean regime in three to four weeks,” said Carter.

“But this was no Desert Storm,” Carter said. “This was a war, God forbid, that would take place in the suburbs of Seoul.”

“Today, we find ourselves where Joe, Han, Tom and I were in 1994,” said Carter. “There is a military option, but it is a lot less available than it was in 1994.”

“In those days, we knew where the plutonium was,” said Carter, referring to the notorious Yongbyon nuclear reactor. “Today, we don’t know where it is.”

Relations between Seoul and Washington have shown increased strain since Roh Moo-Hyun, an outspoken critic of the American invasion of Iraq, was elected president of South Korea in December.

Hubbard and other senior American diplomats have requested that South Korea send a light infantry unit of several thousand troops to assist with peacekeeping operations in Iraq.

Hubbard said that officials in Seoul are giving the request “serious consideration,” though “no decisions have been made yet.”