U.S.`s North Korean Policy Be Revealed

It is reported that the outcome of the North Korean policy review by the Bush administration has gone through all administrative process and waits for the final approval of U.S. President George W. Bush.

A diplomatic source in New York said that the U.S. held a ministerial level meeting of the diplomatic and security departments yesterday and discussed the outcome of the North Korean policy review. ``The final review is to be presented to President Bush soon and the opinions of Korea and Japan will be reflected in the final plan,`` he said.

Previously, the U.S. had explained its vice-ministerial level review of the U.S.`s North Korean policy to Korea and Japan at the meeting of the Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group (TCOG) in Honolulu, Hawaii, last month and South Korea delivered its response to the U.S. last week.

A high official said that the U.S. seems to hear the opinions of South Korea again at the ROK-U.S. foreign minister meeting today before the submission of the final review to the U.S. President. ``Therefore, the time table, level, and methods of the resumption of the North-U.S. dialogue seem to be revealed after the South-U.S. foreign minister meeting,`` he said.

Han Seung-Soo, the Foreign Minister, is to reiterate that, since the relationships of the South-North and the North-U.S. complement each other, the improvement of the North-U.S. relationship is crucial for the improvement of the inter-Korean relationship.

Boo Hyung-Kwon bookum90@donga.com