Foreign Minister Lee Joung-Binn leaves for U.S.

Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Lee Joung-Binn departed for the United States Monday ahead of Wednesday's foreign ministers¡¯ talks with the new Republican administration of U.S. President George W. Bush.

While in Washington for three days until Thursday, Minister Lee will hold talks with Secretary of State Colin Powell on matters of mutual concern, with a particular stress on the two countries¡¯ North Korea policies.

He will also meet with national security advisor Condoleezza Rice, Sen. Craig Thomas, chairman of the East Asia-Pacific subcommittee under the U.S. Senate's International Relations Committee, and Rep. Henry Hyde, chairman of the International Relations Committee at the House of Representatives.

Lee will also meet with Richard Armitage, deputy secretary of state-designate, and other top officials in charge of Korean peninsula policy.

A government official said that Minister Lee would outline Seoul¡¯s engagement policy toward North Korea for new officials of the State Department. He said the Lee-Powell talks would focus on coordinating the two countries' North Korea policies.