President Lee Myung-bak, left, and former U.S. President George W. Bush talk at a hotel on Jeju Island, Saturday. Their meeting was the first in nine months since the APEC summit in Peru last November. Lee flew to Jeju to meet Bush who came to Korea Friday at the invitation of the Federation of Korean Industries. / Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae |
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
Former U.S. President George W. Bush Saturday expressed regret Saturday over the delay in ratifying the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) signed in 2007.
The landmark trade deal has yet to be approved by both legislatures in Seoul and Washington.
At a forum organized by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) on Jeju Island, Bush attributed the delay to the protectionism in Washington, not an anti-Korean sentiment.
Regarding the North Korean nuclear issue, he urged member nations of the six-party disarmament talks to send a strong message to the communist state over its nuclear ambition.
Bush also met with President Lee Myung-bak over the weekend for the first time in a year. He last visited South Korea in August in 2008 for a summit with Lee.
Lee and Bush, who visited Jeju to attend the forum as part of his five-day trip to South Korea, discussed ways of improving the Seoul-Washington alliance and ratifying the KORUS FTA, Cheong Wa Dae officials said.
Both leaders had dinner and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, according to the officials.
The multinational talks involve the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia. In recent months, North Korea has conducted its second nuclear test and test-fired several short- and medium-range missiles, defying calls by the international community to stop provocations.
The United States, South Korea and other allies reportedly offered last month a ``comprehensive package'' of incentives should North Korea agree to end its nuclear program.
Bush plans to visit the city of Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, and the nearby Hahoe Folk Village today at the invitation of Poongsang Group Chairman Ryu Jin.
The village is known for traditional wooden structures, costumes, mask dances and exceptionally beautiful scenery.
Ties between the Bush family and the defense company Poongsan go back to November 2005, when former U.S. President George H.W. Bush visited the traditional Korean city
Bush will also give a speech at a high school in Andong, which was founded by Ryu, before returning home on Tuesday.
gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr
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