Kim calls for export market expansion

President Kim Dae-Jung Thursday called for all-out efforts to expand the nation`s foreign markets in Africa, Europe and Latin America in preparation for an expected decline in exports to the United States and Japan.As part of this effort, the president said he was willing to go abroad to promote Korean exports. Kim made the remarks after planting a tree Thursday at Incheon International Airport to mark Arbor Day.

He said the nation`s economic difficulties were growing worse due to the downturns in the United States and Japan, but stressed that ``we have to overcome these hardships at any cost.``