Korea-US Cooperates on War against Terrorism

While visiting Shanghai in China to participate in the 9th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit talks, President Kim Dae-Jung discussed the international cooperative measures to support the war against terrorism, and the peace issue in the Korean peninsula through the respective meetings with U.S. President George W. Bush, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In an summit meeting with U.S. President Bush at Shanghai Ritz Carlton Hotel, President Kim highly evaluated the formation of international solidarity for eliminating the terrorism led by the United States, and then reassured the Korea`s active support and cooperation to the U.S.`s war against terrorism, delivered presidential spokesman Oh Hong-Keun. President Kim also explained about the recent situation of the relationship between South Korea and North Korea.

President Bush declared the U.S.`s support to the President Kim`s consistent pursuit of the reconciliatory and cooperative policy toward North Korea, and repeatedly stressed that the North Korean government must carry out faithfully the agreement between South and North and respond to the U.S.`s suggestion of dialog.

Regarding the anti-terrorism measure, President Bush promised that the U.S. government would make every support including information exchange for the successful host of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

Considering the changed international atmosphere such as the war against terrorism, President Kim did not requested President Bush to actively pursue the dialog with North Korea in this meeting, reported a governmental official. Both leaders did not make a joint statement.

In summit talks with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, President Kim assured the joint efforts to solidify the cooperative relation between South Korea and China with the 10th anniversary of amity between Korean and China ahead next year.

And meeting Russian President Putin, President Kim discussed the saury fishing issue on waters off the Southern Kuril Islands.

Yun Seung-Mo ysmo@donga.com