Bush, “Kim Jong-il is a Liar”

“He is an untrustworthy liar. “

George W. Bush rather harshly expressed his distrust of Kim Jong-il, the National Defense Commission Chairman of North Korea, during the U.S-Japan summit on June 8, Japanese media reported on June 16.

It was reported that upon hearing that Kim wants to directly talk with the U.S. from Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, President Bush strongly refused the North Korea’s suggestion, saying, “I can not trust such a country. I will only talk to them if there are witnesses.”

Although Koizumi reportedly urged Bush to hold a bilateral talk with North Korea many times saying, “I felt there has been a great change in Kim’s attitude [compared to two years ago],” Bush didn’t seem to listen, said one Japanese government official.

The Japanese media interpreted Bush’s comment as showing Bush sticking to his position that the U.S will only talk to North Korea within the six-party framework where there are witnesses, namely “the third party” countries.

Bush, during an interview last year, also said, “I loathe Kim Jong-il. I`ve got a visceral reaction to this guy.”

Won-Jae Park parkwj@donga.com