Summit Talks with Bush on 14

Schedule for President Roh’s visit to the U.S. and entourage were confirmed yesterday.

President’s seven-day visit, from 11 this month, will begin by meeting with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan in Kew York on 12. On 14 in the afternoon, President Roh will have dinner meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House.

President Roh will visit Intel Corporation, in San Francisco on 16, which considers investment in Korea. A presidential foreign relations advisor, Ban Gyi-mun, said that at the summit talks, participants would discuss ways to announce the U.S.-ROK Joint Statement, which conclude issues: peaceful ways to solve North Korea`s nuclear problems, U.S.-ROK alliance, and importance of economic cooperation between the two sides.

Entourage will comprise 16 official aides, 27 entrepreneurs, Chairman William and Vice Chairman Tammy of AMCHAM. The 16 official aides include Kin Jin-pyo, the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy, Yoon Young-gwan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Kim Young-jin, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Jin Dae-jae, the Minister of Information and Communications, Han Seung-ju, the Ambassador to the U.S., Nah Jong-il, Presidential advisor on national security, Hwang Du-yun the Minister for Trade of MOFAT, Kim Jong-hwan, the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff, Kwon Oh-gyu, Presidential policy advisor, Lee Hae-sung, the chif advisor on media, Cho Yoon-jae, the economy advisor, Ban Gyi-mun, the diplomacy advisor, Kim Hee-sang, the national security advisor, Seo Gab-won, the protocol secretary, and Sim Yoon-jo of MOFAT.

Accompanying entrepreneurs are: chairmen of the Federation of Korean Industries, KorCham, KOTIS(Korea Trade Information Services), Korea Employers Federation, Samsung Electronics, LG Group, Hyundai Motors, Hyosung, etc. The list also includes other private sector leaders from Korealife, Koreanair, Doosan, Tong Yang Cement Corporation, Daelim, Kolon, Lotteshopping, Sanwhan Corporation, Samyang, Poongsan, POSCO, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motors, and Korea Venture Business Association.

CEOs of Humax, Locus, and Daum Communications will visit Intel.

President Roh said yesterday that he would make the trip to the U.S. an opportunity to promote Korea’s national vision and achievements. He instructed his aide Lee Hae-sung to be fully prepared for the upcoming tour.

At a Cheong Wa Dae meeting with his chief advisors and secretaries, President Roh said that purpose of this trip was to reaffirm solid friendship between the U.S. and ROK and discuss ways to bringing peace on the Korean Peninsular. He also added that it was urgent to remove uncertainties in the national security by strengthening ties with the U.S.

President Roh highlighted that the priority was to recover confidence in global markets by showing stability in Korea’s economy and security and it unchallenged potential.

Jeong-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com