U.S. President Barack Obama |
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama will primarily discuss ways to end North Korea's nuclear program during a summit scheduled in Seoul next week.
Both leaders share a lot in their positions on North Korea, but they differ over a free trade deal signed two years ago, indicating that they will want to narrow the gap in the summit.
Jeffrey Bader, senior director for East Asian affairs at the National Security Council, was quoted by Yonhap as saying that "North Korea obviously will be the principle focus of this trip."
"We will be talking about how we reengage in the six-party process with the agenda of denuclearization and reaffirmation of previous commitments," he said.
President Obama is scheduled to arrive in Seoul next Wednesday after wrapping up the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Singapore. During his Asia tour, Obama will also travel to Japan and China.
Bader underscored the U.S. government's close policy consultation with South Korea, saying, "We have taken a step in the six-party process, closely coordinating and checking with South Koreans before we've done anything."
Meanwhile, another U.S. official was quoted as saying on condition of anonymity that President Obama fully supports Lee's approach to North Korea.
Local experts say that Lee and Obama may discuss Lee's "Grand Bargain" initiative aimed at settling the North's nuclear ambitions in a irreversible and verifiable manner in exchange for economic incentives and security guarantees.
The two leaders are also planning to discuss South Korea's plan to dispatch troops to Afghanistan, climate change and economic issues.
Seoul recently announced it would augment its Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. The motion will be sent to the National Assembly soon for parliamentary approval.
Opposition parties have expressed worries about the safety of troops to be sent to the war-torn nation, but they weren't completely against it, signaling that the chances of the motion being ratified are high. The ruling Grand National Party controls the legislature with a comfortable majority.
Earlier, South Korea sent a 25-member medical team to Afghanistan, which is currently operating in the nation.
In contrast, the two leaders' positions on trade issues appear to differ.
On the occasion of the U.S. President's visit to South Korea, the presidential office hoped that Obama would express a more positive position on the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement.
The two leaders have repeatedly affirmed their efforts for the ratification of the trade deal, said the presidential office.
The trade accord was signed in June 2007, but legislatures of the two nations have not approved the measure yet.
South Korea wanted to pass the accord without modification, but the U.S. hinted that they may want to change some elements.
Michael Froman, deputy national security advisor for international economic affairs, said "there were some outstanding issues" to address in the KORUS FTA deal.
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk also said last week that the USTR was developing proposals that would enable them to "address concerns with respect to automotive trade."
hkang@koreatimes.co.kr
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yistory@koreatimes.co.kr
