Bush Vows Visa Waiver for Koreans
By Kim Yon-se, Michael Ha
Korea Times Correspondent, Staff Reporter
CAMP DAVID ― President George W. Bush made the point that he relishes having a South Korean leader who is on the same page with him on a number of major issues.
He invited conservative Lee Myung-bak to his presidential retreat, a gesture that was offered to no other South Korean president in the past.
Bush noted that the two leaders spoke about several major issues, including the South Korea-U.S. free trade deal, the North Korean nuclear issue and other bilateral economic and military issues.
Bush was candid in showing his appreciation for having a conservative leader in South Korea. ``I really appreciate (President Lee's) values,'' Bush said during a joint news conference with Lee.
Bush said of the summit, ``We've had great visits. And this is an important visit for me to get to know you.'' ``I heard about your background. I admire your strength of character, and this is an important visit to strengthen the relationship between our two countries and I believe we have done so.''
He went on, ``I like his spirit, I like his candor and I like his optimistic vision. But most of all, I really appreciate his values.''
Commenting on trade issues, Bush thanked Lee in again opening up the South Korean market to U.S. beef and also said he will try to pass the free trade agreement (FTA) by the year's end. Prior to the ban on U.S. beef imports in 2003, South Korea was the third biggest importer of U.S. beef.
``As a former CEO, President Lee understands the importance of trade,'' Bush told Lee. ``First of all, I want to thank you, Mr. President, and I appreciate your decision to reopen the Korean market to American beef ― consistent with international standards.''
On the FTA, Bush said, ``I assured (President Lee) that the Korea trade agreement is a priority of this administration. I assured him that we will press hard with U.S. Congress. It's in our country's interests that we approve this agreement.''
On the North Korean nuclear issue, Bush assured that his administration will continue to press Pyongyang to keep its denuclearization pledge. ``Together with China, Russia and Japan, our nations are pressing North Korea to fulfill its obligations to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Thanks to the six-party framework, North Korea has begun disabling the plutonium production facilities at Yongbyon.''
Bush is currently being accused by some of the more hawkish voices in the United States, including former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, that he is getting soft with Pyongyang by allegedly backing off from demanding specific accounts of Pyongyang's past nuclear activities.
Bush also talked about his administration's concern about the human rights issue in North Korea. ``President Lee and I discussed our mutual concern for the human condition in North Korea. Our hearts break when we hear these stories of families that have been torn apart or people being subjected to harsh work camps because of their beliefs.''
On bilateral military issues, Bush said the two sides ``reached an agreement to maintain the current U.S. troop level on the Peninsula.''
Bush also said he supports upgrading South Korea's Foreign Military Sales status, something that many U.S. key allies already have.
``Korea has asked to upgrade its Foreign Military Sales status with the United States and to have the same access to U.S. military technologies as NATO and other key allies,'' Bush said. ``I strongly support this request and have instructed Secretaries Rice and Gates to work with the Congress to get this done.''
Bush has also promised to try to implement the ``Visa Waiver Program,'' which would allow South Korean citizens short-term visa-free travel to the United States. The two sides hope to put the program in place by the year's end.