Meeting with Ruling and Opposition Leaders Today

President Kim Dae-Jung and Lee Hoi-Chang, the president of the Grand National Party, is meeting together in Cheong Wa Dae today to discuss the cooperative measures related to the U.S. attack over Afghanistan.

This is the first meeting of the two leaders 9 months after they first met on Jan. 4th this year.

President Kim is likely to explain the government decision to send medical and transportation forces to the U.S. war against Afghanistan. The two leaders are expected to discuss the impacts of this war on the domestic economy and the national security and to make an agreement on the nonpartisan cooperation.

Oh Hong-Geun, spokesperson of Cheong Wa Dae, remarked at a regular briefing, ``[President] requested the president Lee for the leaders` meeting this morning and the president Lee`s team responded positively. The agenda will include the issues related with the terror and the public welfares.``

Kwon Chul-Hyun, spokesperson of GNP, also announced ``Lee Sang-Joo, the Chief Secretary to the President called president Lee this morning to deliver the request of President Kim. We agreed to have a meeting about a hour from 10:40 a.m. tomorrow morning.``

In terms of the meeting, Mr. Kwon said that ``the discussion will be limited to the retaliation attack after the terror on America. Other issues will not be discussed at this meeting. After having reports from Jin Nyum, Minister of Finance and Economy, and Kim Dong-Shin, Defense Minister, the two leaders will have an exclusive meeting.``

Yun Seung-Mo ysmo@donga.com