Korea, EU agree to hold joint commission meeting in first half of 2001

President Kim Dae-Jung will return home Friday afternoon, winding up a seven-day visit to Sweden and Norway, where he received this year¡¯s Nobel Peace Prize.

In his arrival statement, the President Kim is expected to outline the direction of state affairs and pledge to work out measures to address growing economic problems.

The president held a summit with Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson Wednesday and shared the view that the key purpose of the first Korea-EU joint commission conference in the first half of next year would be to discuss economic cooperation measures between Korea and the EU.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Persson reportedly unveiled plans to visit North Korea next year for a summit with North Korean Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-Il.

President Kim was quoted as saying that he believed that Persson's plan would be realized.

Related government officials said that, when U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited Pyongyang, the North Korean side expressed hope that it would promote diplomatic relations following the pattern of North Korea¡¯s ties with Sweden, adding that the reclusive North holds Sweden in high regard for the diversity of its diplomatic ties.

During his trip, Kim also visited the Nobel Foundation and had friendly conversations with other Nobel Prize winners. He presented to the foundation the original drafts letters he wrote and clothes he wore while imprisoned here. The items will be displayed in the Nobel Prize Centenary Memorial Exhibition.

Choi Young-Mook ymook@donga.com