Five points at issue in Korea-U.S. summit

President Kim Dae-Jung and U.S. President George W. Bush will hold their first summit in Washington on Wednesday (U.S. time). The meeting is expected to be crucial to gauging the direction and contents of the U.S. Republican administration`s North Korea policy. Following is a list of what are likely to be the five major points at issue. :--Ed.

1. Mutual cooperation on North Korea policy

The core question is how the two allies will evaluate the changes in North Korea and fine-tune their views on the speed and methods of improving relations with North Korea.

The Kim-Bush summit is likely to start with a discussion of issues of primary interest to the U.S., like North Korea`s development of weapons of mass destruction, namely nuclear arms and missiles, reduction of conventional arms, and further implementation of the Geneva accord between Washington and Pyongyang. This follows the Korean government`s judgment that items of greatest concern to the U.S. ought to be sufficiently discussed at the outset in order to narrow differences in the two sides` perceptions of the overall situation.

But South Korea is seeking flexible reciprocity from North Korea in contrast to the strict reciprocity the U.S. is demanding. Seoul`s aim is to bring the North to the negotiating table in order to promote an atmosphere conducive to reconciliation, cooperation and peace on the Korean Peninsula.

As far as concrete pending issues are concerned, the two presidents are expected to discuss the question of providing aid in the form of electricity and strategic materials to the North. They are also expected to hold talks on the issue of preparing a new arrangement on coordinating and supervising North Korea policies to replace the existing tripartite grouping of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan. This arrangement was set up during the Clinton administration. The government is seeking to deter further disputes over a U.S. scheme to replace the light-water reactors now under construction in the North with thermal power plants. Seoul will present its view that the implementation of the Geneva agreement is the top priority task.

2. Kim Jong-Il’s Seoul visit

The U.S. side is still skeptical on the issue of North Korean National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-Il`s forthcoming visit to Seoul and recent changes in the North. The U.S. has voiced concern over the possibility that South and North Korea may reach a ``hasty`` agreement during the visit that would affect U.S. security, particularly the stationing of U.S. troops in South Korea.

In order to clear such concerns, President Kim is expected to outline the major agenda items for the second inter-Korean summit, such as reconciliation and cooperation between the two Koreas, alleviation of tension and ways to promote peace. He also will listen to President Bush`s views. President Kim will likely stress that Chairman Kim`s trip to Seoul is important for maintaining an atmosphere of reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula and ask the U.S. to play a positive role in helping peace take root here.

For his part, President Bush is expected to recognize that Chairman Kim`s Seoul visit would be helpful to stabilizing the situation here, but also emphasize that the recent changes in North Korea may be intended to maintain its political system. He will likely call for the changes to be verified and stress that North Korea should take tangible steps to ease tensions, such as giving up development of weapons of mass destruction and moving conventional arms to rear areas.

3. National Missile Defense system

This was a delicate matter from the start, so against the advice of some observers, the two presidents are not expected to handle it as a core issue. A high-ranking government official said Monday, ``The National Missile Defense (NMD) system will be discussed at the summit and the results will be accepted both by the two sides in recognition of the friendly state of their relations.``

The government offered a statement on the NMD on Mar. 2, saying it ``understands the U.S. government`s stance,`` but failed to clarify whether it supports or opposes the plan. The joint statement issued by President Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the end of their summit in Seoul on Feb. 27 sparked a controversy owing to a clause calling for efforts to ``preserve and strengthen the convention to limit air-to-air ballistic missiles (ABM).``

Since it remains unlikely that the U.S. is in a position to implement its NMD plan at the moment, due to the exorbitant expense and technical problems, the two presidents aren`t expected to discuss the question in detail. And the U.S. is not likely to demand a clear expression of South Korea`s position on the issue.

4. Korea-U.S. alliance

There is no disputing the fact that the summit will serve as an occasion to reconfirm the longstanding alliance between South Korea and the United States.

President Kim will make clear once again that the Korea-U.S. alliance, based on their joint defense posture, is the very basis of Korea`s foreign policy. He is also expected to stress the need for the development of a more inclusive partnership, extending to the fields of politics, security, economy and culture.

President Kim will inform President Bush that Kim Jong-Il gave tacit agreement to the stationing of U.S. troops in the South during the inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang last June. He will also stress the role of the U.S. military in maintaining peace and stability in Northeast Asia.

It is still open to question whether the U.S. side will ask for Korea`s cooperation with regard to Korean FX and AHX projects based on the two countries` status as allies.

5. Trade issues

The topic of pending trade issues between Korea and the United States centers on the conclusion of the Korea-U.S. investment pact. Both sides agreed in principle to sign the pact, but negotiations have been delayed due to the screen quota issue.

The United States has demanded that Korea abolish or sharply reduce the compulsory screening period for Korean movies, which now stands at 146 days. Along with this, the U.S. side is expected to raise such issues as the protection of intellectual property rights and the easing of unbalanced trade in the automobiles and steel sectors. As the United States recorded its biggest ever trade deficit last year, new economy-related officials from the Bush administration are expected to strengthen trade pressure on Seoul to make changes with respect to automobiles and steel products.

On trade issues, Korea is in a defensive position. President Kim Dae-Jung is expected to seek the understanding of the U.S. side, explaining that the domestic movie industry would be in danger of collapse if the screen quota system were abolished.