Kim-Bush summit on March 7

The Korean and U.S. governments announced Thursday that President Kim Dae-Jung and President George Bush would meet in Washington on March 7 (local time). The two leaders will discuss matters of common concern, ways of further cementing bilateral ties based on the Korean-American alliance and working together to promote peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia, said presidential senior press secretary Park Joon-Young.

Kim is scheduled to leave Seoul around March 6 for a 4 to 5-day official working visit to Washington. A summit meeting with Bush will be followed by a luncheon. Talks are also planned with a number of top officials of the administration and Congressional leaders to exchange views on the Korean situation.

Consultations will be held between the two leaders on a wide range of issues aimed at strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance and continuing to pursue closely coordinated North Korea policies following the inauguration of the new Republican administration.

Discussions will center on Seoul`s policy of detente with Pyongyang, which is hoped to lead to a permanent peace on the Korean peninsula, and the forthcoming Seoul visit of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. A highly placed aide to President Kim said there is little to worry about with respect to the partnership between South Korea and the United States because the Republican administration is committed to the alliance. He was confident that the Washington summit would reaffirm American support for Seoul`s policy of reconciliation and cooperation with North Korea.

North Korea`s Kim Jong-Il, chairman of its all-powerful National Defense Commission, is likely to visit Seoul in or around April, following the Kim-Bush summit and the North Korean strongman`s trip to Russia.

Yun Seung-Mo ysmo@donga.com