U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Holds Talks With President Roh Today

Presidential spokesman, Yoon Tai-young, said on November 16 that President Roh Moo-hyun will meet U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who is visiting Korea to attend the 35th Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) held at the Blue House on the afternoon of November 17.

In the talks with Rumsfeld, President Roh is planning to convey Korean government’s position on the additional troop dispatch to Iraq, and he is expected to give his opinion on the relocation of the U.S. troops and North Korean nuclear issue.

At this day’s talks, the U.S.’ first formal position on the Korean government’s troop dispatch plan - “Not exceeding 3,000-strong troops for supporting reconstruction”- is expected to be expressed, and it will be critical to patch up the details of the dispatch plan with the U.S. counterparts.

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived in Korea on the afternoon of November 16, and he will attend the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) both on November 17 and 18. After the meeting, he will attend worship at the National Memorial Board in Dongjacdong, Seoul and will visit the U.S. Army’s 2nd Infantry Division.

Jeong-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com