`Bush seeks Seoul`s support for NMD`

Foreign Affairs Minister Lee Joung-Binn addressed suspicions surrounding recent summits with the United States and Russia in a speech on reconciliation with North Korea and Seoul-Washington ties and a follow-up question-and-answer session. Lee was speaking in a Korea Press Foundation-sponsored policy forum held at the Press Center here Friday morning.

Lee`s remarks came amid suspicions that the United States asked for a formal expression of South Korea`s support for its national missile defense system during the recent summit between President Kim Dae-Jung and U.S. President George W. Bush. Other rumors suggest that Russia brought up the issue of a U.S. troop withdrawal from Korea in the summit between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Lee echoed government sources who said previously that Washington had made no such request during the Washington summit. ``The United States asked South Korea to endorse its planned missile shield during negotiations ahead of the summit but the White House told a subsequent briefing that it did not request South Korea`s support, nor did the latter voice explicit support for the plan,`` Lee said.

He added that Moscow was prepared to raise the question of a U.S. troop withdrawal when Russian President Putin addressed the National Assembly here but that Seoul had insisted on excluding the issue from the talks. ``The relationship between South Korea and the United States is the most important in terms of resolving the Korean question, yet a balanced approach is necessary as there are multiple aspects to be dealt with,`` he said.

``South Korea stood its ground on all issues in the summit talks with both Russia and the United States.`` Lee went on to emphasize the need for verification in addressing North Korea`s missile and nuclear development programs. ``Verification in connection with humanitarian aid involves the transparency of distribution,`` Lee said.

[Yonhap]