By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama Friday called the half-century alliance between South Korea and the United States the ``cornerstone'' for maintaining peace in the Asia region.
In a 12-minute phone conversation that began at 7:17 a.m. (KST), President Lee Myung-bak and Obama pledged joint efforts to develop a broader alliance beyond the Korean Peninsula. They also agreed to closely cooperate in dealing with the global financial crisis and other international issues, including the deadlock over North Korea's nuclear programs.
Lee was among nine world leaders Obama spoke to by telephone a day after his resounding victory in the Nov. 4 U.S. presidential election.
``I'm a great admirer of your country and people,'' said Obama, responding to Lee's congratulatory message.
The U.S. President-elect also expressed a fondness for Korean food, including bulgogi and kimchi, according to Cheong Wa Dae, which released a transcript of the conversation.
He added that he had a lot of contact with Korean-Americans while growing up in Hawaii.
Obama said he wants to further upgrade the alliance, which has served as the cornerstone for peace and stability in Northeast Asia,
In particular, Obama, who will be the first African-American President, stressed the need to develop bilateral relations on security and economic issues, it said.
President Lee vowed to join forces with the United States to handle pending global issues, such as the ongoing financial turmoil, energy resources, the environment and poverty.
He also asked Obama for full support in resolving the North Korea nuclear issue, the presidential office said.
During the talk, President Lee bypassed an interpreter to talk directly with Obama in English. Obama was said to have joked that your English is better than my Korean, saying that ``the only Korean expression he can say is `annyeonghaseyo'.''
Both leaders expressed the hope that they will meet soon.
Lee is scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C. next week to attend the Group of 20 financial summit slated for Nov. 15. Obama's attendance at the summit has yet to be confirmed.
Lee will meet with a group of Obama's foreign and security policy advisers under the auspices of the Brookings Institution after his arrival in Washington Nov. 14, Lee's aides said.
Lee and Obama's advisers are expected to exchange views on a range of issues, including the ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement and readjustment of roles and missions of U.S. troops in South Korea, they said.
Lee is also expected to solicit support from the new U.S. administration on his North Korea policy aimed at disarming North Korea and opening up the reclusive North by raising Pyongyang's per capita income to $3,000 within a decade.
gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr
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'600만명 학살 지휘' 잔인한 인물의 뒷얘기 공개
