“Let`s Talk about North`s WMD at Korea-U.S. Summit”

The U.S. communicated its intention to talk about the North`s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as a primary agenda at the Korea-U.S. summit talk on the 20th and the both sides are reportedly adjusting their positions through the diplomatic channels.

A government official disclosed that "The urgent concern of the U.S. is the problem of the North`s WMD so that George Bush wants to raise the issue at the summit talks with President Kim Dae-Jung. Both sides are adjustments with regard to U.S. President Bush`s remark and the response of the Korean government."

The official added that "The problem of WMD could make the stagnated Inter-Korean relationship more complicated. The Korean government will probably deliver its position that it is concerned about the North`s WMD and will try to solve the problem."

A high official of the Cheong Wa Dae said that "We delivered our opinion at the 6.15 Inter-Korean Summit that the problem of nuclear weapon and missile must be resolved and the Inter-Korean relationship can be improved only when the North and the U.S. are in dialogue. We have never discussed the issue in public but have delivered the same opinion through various channels."

With regard to the summit talk, Foreign Minister Choi Sung-Hong made a phone call to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to discuss the agendas for the Korea-U.S. summit and the measures to resume the North-U.S. dialogue.

U.S. Secretary of State Powell said, "Let the two governments cooperate closely in order to make President Bush`s visit to Korea a success." National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice also agreed that "The security of the Korean Peninsula is crucial, especially with the 2002 World Cup games coming up."

Meanwhile, the effort of the Korean government to adopt a joint declaration after the summit turned out to be in vain with the negative response of the U.S. Therefore, the leaders of the two nations will express their understanding on the current issues at the opening speeches of the press conference.

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