Korea-U.S. Are Tuning Their Views on N.K.

U.S. President George W. Bush started his six-day foreign policy trip to Japan, Korea, and China, and the Korean government entered into an emergency situation for the Korea-U.S. summit meeting until his leaving on 21st.

▼ Korean government`s preparation for the summit meeting = The Korean government is finally reviewing its preparation for the summit meeting. For example, in order to reduce the differences of South Korea and the U.S. governments` policies on North Korea, the South Korean government is preparing detailed measures for each issues that will be discussed in the summit meeting scheduled on 20th.

A government official said, "President Bush showed positive gestures, such as he promised a compensation for the North Korea if it gives up its weapons of mass destruction (WMD). However, he also raised the uneasy issues of the North`s conventional weapons and human rights. The Korean government will try it best to resolve the different views on the North during the summit meeting."

In the summit meeting on 20th, President Kim Dae-Jung will emphasize that the current issues between the North and U.S., including the WMD issue, should be solved through dialogue. President Bush is likely to present strong warning against the North`s WMD and conventional weapons and to urge the North to show its sincere measures to these matters.

▼ President Bush`s message for his trip = President Bush stopped on 16th at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, and told the troops that, "During my trip to the three East Asian countries, I will present America`s firm message against terrorism to the leaders of these countries."

He especially emphasized that, "There are nations that develop nuclear and biochemical weapons and treat others with long-range missiles. We would like for them to change their ways, and we will continue to pressure them to do so."

▼ President Bush started his trip = President Bush arrived at the Haneda International Ariport, Kyoto, yesterday afternoon. His visit is the 6th official visit of the U.S. president after the World War II, and it has been 3 years and 3 months after President Bill Clinton`s official visit in November 1998.

President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will have a summit meeting on Monday morning to discuss about the recovering measures for Japanese economy, the strengthening of alliance between the U.S. and Japan for anti-terrorism, and the issues on Korean peninsula, such as the North`s spreading of WMD.

Young-Ee Lee yes202@donga.com