Obama, Lee push for greater efforts on N.Korea nuclear issue
- Source: Global Times
- [16:26 November 19 2009]
- Comments
US President Barack Obama (L) meets with his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak (R) at South Korea's presidential Blue House in Seoul, capital of South Korea, on Nov. 19, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)
US President Barack Obama and S. Korean President Lee Myung-bak met Thursday and repeated their stand on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nuclear plans.
"With respect to the DPRK and its nuclear program, we reiterated our firm stances over the DPRK's complete, verifiable denuclearization through the six-party talks," Lee said.
Obama said that they both agreed on "the need to break the pattern that has existed in the past, in which N. Korea behaves in a provocative fashion and then returns to talks for a while and then leave the talks seeking further concessions."
In addition, according to Obama's office, US special envoy Stephen Bosworth will pay a visit to North Korea on December 8 to discuss how Pyongyang will dismantle its nuclear program.
"If North Korea is prepared to take concrete and irreversible steps to fulfill its obligations and eliminate its nuclear weapons program, the United States will support economic assistance and help promote its full integration into the community of nations," Obama said. "That opportunity and respect will not come with threats. North Korea must live up to its obligations."
The North's nuclear program has been a major concern for the US and other Asian countries. Bosworth's mission will focus on reviving the suspended six-party talks on nuclear program.
Lee and Obama also agreed to talk about the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with Lee saying, "President Obama and I reaffirmed the economic, strategic importance of the S. Korea-US FTA, and we agreed to move forward on the deal together."
The South Korean president said at a joint press conference that the Republic of Korea and the US will continue discussing concrete measures to further develop bilateral ties, confirming that the two countries are having "the best" relationship at the moment.
After visiting the US military base and meeting a group of American service members stationed there, Obama returned to the US, wrapping up his Asia tour.
Agencies
