President Kim Urges for Earlier Resumption of North-US Talks

In the afternoon of September 22, 2002 (Korean Standard Time), President Kim Dae Jung, who is visiting Denmark to attend the 4th meeting of the ASEM, held a summit with Japanese Prime Minster Junichiro Koizumi. In the summit, the two heads discussed various topics including the current circumstances around the Korean Peninsula after the Japan-North Korea summit, and harmonized two countries` positions toward North.

In the summit, which was held at the Scandik Copenhagen Hotel where President Kim is staying, the two heads shared their views and agreed to the importance of parallel development of relations between South and North, North and Japan, and North and US. They also agreed to the early resumption of North-US talks.

Chief public relations aide to President Park Sun-sook said that both of President Kim and Prime Minister Koizumi acknowledged that the cooperation between South, US and Japan is necessary than ever to cope with the changing political situations around the Korean Peninsula, which was partly caused by Premier Koizumi`s visit and his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jung Il.

President Kim also stressed the support and cooperation from the ASEM members and said, "To induce positive changes of North, the support of the international community is important." His remarks were made during the Summit of Asian Countries held at the Copenhagen Center where, in addition to President Kim and Japanese Prime Minister, 7 heads of the ASEAN member countries were on hand.

Prior to the summit, on Sep. 21, President Kim held a meeting with Korean-Netherlandians in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and said, "In the near future, we will see an era when North and Japan normalize their relations. Thus, the only problem left is the North-US relations. I will keep discussing this matter with US President George W. Bush."

In this regard, President Kim will reported hold a summit with President Bush during the APEC Summit, which is scheduled for October of 2002 in Mexico. In the expected summit, President Kim will ask US to resume talks with North.

In Amsterdam, President Kim met with Guus Hiddink, the former national soccer team coach of South Korea, had a lucheon with him. During the luncheon, Kim and Hiddink discussed matters, especially regarding the "soccer exchange" between South and Netherlands.

On September 23, President Kim will attend the ASEM Summit and aggressively address issues concerning completion of "Iron Silk Road." The project includes the construction of railroads across the Korean Peninsula and Siberia, latter of which is named "Trans-Siberia Railroad."

ysmo@donga.com