Lee to discuss NK with Obama, Kan in Toronto

By Na Jeong-ju

Staff reporter

President Lee Myung-bak will hold bilateral talks with U.S. President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan in Toronto, Canada, Saturday (local time) to discuss North Korea on the sidelines of the Group of 20 Summit, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday.

Lee plans to arrive in Toronto earlier in the day to attend the meeting of the world's 20 wealthiest countries, scheduled to be held there from Saturday to Sunday. He will then visit Panama and Mexico for more talks on economic cooperation.

Lee and Obama will discuss their plans to create an international consensus on punishing Pyongyang over the sinking of the South Korean Navy vessel Cheonan in March, which is believed to be the result of an unprovoked North Korean torpedo attack.

Also on the summit agenda will be the defense alliance between Seoul and Washington and seeking endorsement from their respective legislatures for a bilateral free trade agreement, according to the presidential office.

The White House said North Korea will be the dominant issue at the Lee-Obama summit.

"The focus of this meeting will be security and alliance issues in the wake of the sinking," AFP quoted an official as saying. "The meeting will be a public and a private demonstration of our strong solidarity with our South Korean ally."

North Korea will also be the key topic when Lee meets the new Japanese leader. It will be their first meeting since Kan's inauguration early this month.

"Lee and Kan are expected to reaffirm their alliance on tackling North Korea's military provocation and discuss ways to boost economic ties between Seoul and Tokyo," a Cheong Wa Dae spokesman said.

In Toronto, President Lee will engage in active diplomacy to seek broader worldwide support for U.N. action against North Korea over the Cheonan sinking.

He may meet with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss North Korea, the spokesman said, adding that the exact schedule for their meeting has not been set yet.

South Korea is currently working closely with the United States, Japan and other allies to seek condemnation of Pyongyang at the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) over the naval tragedy that claimed the lives of 46 sailors.

China, a traditional ally of North Korea, and Russia both have veto-wielding power at the UNSC and are lukewarm about blaming the reclusive North for the sinking.

After visiting Panama and Mexico, Lee plans to return to Seoul on July 3.