Pres. Office Releases Details of Lee-Obama Summit

The presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul yesterday said President Lee Myung-bak will leave for Washington June 15 on a four-day visit for a summit meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama.

The two leaders will have a one-on-one meeting, extended summit and joint news conference at the Oval Office June 16. They will adopt a "Joint Vision for the (Republic of Korea-U.S. Alliance" that suggests principles of a strengthened bilateral alliance and the direction for the two nations.

The statement will include the concept of "extended deterrence" for South Korea, meaning the U.S. will provide a nuclear umbrella and conventional forces to help the South defend itself against a North Korean attack. In response to Pyongyang’s second nuclear test and alleged preparation to fire a long-range missile, the two leaders will discuss cooperation strategies.

They will also push ahead with the Seoul-Washington free trade agreement, bolster bilateral cooperation to develop technologies and promote low carbon emissions and green growth, and deal with world issues such as global warming and the financial crisis.

yongari@donga.com