Kim Asks U.S. to Resume Talks with N.K.

President Kim Dae-Jung discussed the U. S.`s North Korea policy and the Missile Defense (MD) plan with visiting Richard Armitage, US deputy secretary of state, and James Kelly, assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific affairs, at Cheong Wa Dae yesterday.

After Armitage’s brief on the U. S.`s review of policy toward North Korea and the MD plan that President George W. Bush declared on 1st, President Kim called for the U. S. to promptly wrap up its review of North Korea policy and reestablish the dialogue with North Korea as soon as possible,

President Kim emphasized that the successful pursuit of `engagement policy` based on Korea-US security alliance and close mutual-cooperation will contribute to the improvement of South-North relations and peace and stabilization of North East Asia region.

An government official told that ``Armitage explained the U. S.`s North Korea policy and the MD plan, but detailed discussion on working-level could not be fulfilled within a limited amount of time. Details of consultation on the policy toward North Korea will be discussed at South Korea, Japan, the U. S Three-way Consultative Conference on the North Group (TCOG) meeting. This meeting is to be held this month.

And President Kim also emphasized the government’s basic position that the MD plan should be pursued on the basis of close consultation with allies and interested nations.

Armitage and visitors met tonight with the Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Han Seung-Soo, and will meet with the Unification Minister Lim Dong-Won and Defense Minister Kim Dong-Shin on 10th. And they will hold a roundtable discussion with Lim Sung-jun Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, etc.

Yun Seung-Mo ysmo@donga.com