US Requests Korea`s Understanding of Its Missile Defense Plan

During a working-level meeting with the high-ranking officials including Lim Sung-Jun, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy U. S. Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, explained about the Missile Defense(MD) plan and had requested the Korea government’s understanding.

Deputy Secretary Armitage revealed that the MD plan will pursue for the progress of world peace and security, in close consultation with allies and countries concerned such as Russia and China. He further said that, the U. S. will reduce unilaterally the nuclear weapons according to the new strategic framework and hopes for Russia to participate in this plan.

After the meeting, a government official said that ``the government expressed the understanding that the MD plan pursued as a response to new threats to world security. The basic position of the government was delivered, a position that the U. S. should closely consult with allies and interested parties to proceed with the MD plan.``

Prior to this meeting, Armitage exchanged opinions about the MD plan with Defense Minister Kim Dong-Shin and Unification Minister Lim Dong-Won.

Minister Lim said that the NK-US relations should progress along with the South-North relations. He hopes the U. S. will resume talks with North Korea as soon as possible.

Lim said that North Korea expressed the intention of the dialogue with the U. S. through the declaration of the moratorium of the missile testing. Armitage agreed to this.

Armitage said in the meeting with Kim Defense Minister that the MD plan will promote peace because it is designed to establish a defense capability toward restricted missile attacks.

Meanwhile, ``if North Korea shows its hope for peaceful relations such as the missile test moratorium, then the Bush administration will accelerate the dialogue,`` a top government`s official told. ``Therefore, Kim Jong-Il`s visit to Seoul will be also naturally discussed, following a NK-US dialogue and the recovery of the South-North relations,`` he said.

Armitage left for India after a two-day trip to Korea.

Lee Chol-Hi klimt@donga.com