 |
|
Roh-Bush
|
Security concerns at top of agenda
Security concerns at top of agenda
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun is planning to visit Washington in September to hold a summit with his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush for the first time in 10 months.
"The two nations have been in talks to schedule the summit" and determine its agenda, said Song Min-soon, chief presidential secretary for security policy.
"The two sides have agreed to have the summit in September," Mr. Song said, adding that he would visit Washington next month to fine-tune the details. Mr. Song said that on the trip he would meet with diplomatic officials, including National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.
Presidents Roh and Bush are expected to discuss issues of mutual concern, including security in the Northeast Asian region. The summit would be the first of its kind since they met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum held in Busan last November.
"Recently, there is a growing need for Seoul and Washington to have closer consultation and raise the level of fine-tuning, as things that have indirect impact on North Korea's nuclear issue are rising in importance," Mr. Song said, indicating that the deadlocked six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program would be high on the agenda during the planned talks.
The summit would also come amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and worldwide with the North poised to conduct a missile test.
