Critics say absence due to disagreement between two sides
South Korea and the United States agreed they would not adopt a joint statement after their summit to be held September 14, Washington D.C. time, a presidential source said.
According to a source in the presidential office, presidents Roh Moo-hyun and George W. Bush will hold a press conference following the summit.
"The agreement was reached between chief presidential security secretary Song Min-soon and his U.S. counterparts in Washington last week," the source said.
Song visited the U.S. earlier this month in order to fine-tune agenda items for the summit prior to President Roh’s tour of the country. During his stay, Song reportedly met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley in Washington.
Some critics raised concerns that the lack of a joint statement is a sign that both nations are disagreeing over some key issues, such as Seoul’s efforts to take over wartime military control from Washington, as well as how best to deal with the North Korea nuclear crisis. The presidential office, however, dismissed the concerns. "The reason for deciding not to issue any joint document is that most of the agenda items are addressed in the joint statement issued after the previous summit talks held in South Korea," it said. Both countries have held five rounds of summit talks since President Roh took office in February 2003, and have adopted three joint statements.
