ID :
28916
Fri, 11/07/2008 - 15:18
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/28916
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Lee, Obama agree to strengthen alliance for peace in Asia
By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Nov. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Friday agreed to further reinforce the two countries' bilateral alliance and to closely cooperate in addressing the global financial crisis and North Korean nuclear issue, Lee's spokesman said.
Lee and Obama discussed these issues during a telephone conversation held early
Friday morning (Korean time), said presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan.
President Lee and Obama shared the view that a stronger alliance between South
Korea and the U.S. would promote peace and stability in Asia, according to the
spokesman.
The two leaders also agreed to meet in the nearest possible future, raising
speculation that they may hold one-on-one talks on the sidelines of the Group of
20 financial summit slated for Nov. 15 in Washington D.C.
Lee will travel to the U.S. later this month to attend the Group of 20 summit,
while Obama's attendance has yet to be confirmed.
"Obama called Lee at 7:17 a.m. and they spoke mostly about the South Korea-U.S.
alliance and Asian security issues for about 12 minutes. Most of their
conversation was conducted without an interpreter," said the spokesman.
"Obama said relations between South Korea and the U.S. are already solid and he
wanted to further beef up the alliance, because their closer relations will be a
cornerstone for peace and stability in Asia. Obama also stressed the importance
of bilateral economic and security relations, while expressing hope for closer
personal relations with President Lee."
The next U.S. president went on to suggest that Seoul and Washington cooperate
more closely in dealing with the global financial crisis and issues relating to
North Korea, according to the spokesman.
President Lee began the conversation by sincerely congratulating Obama on his
landslide election victory and said the American people's expectations for change
and hope appear to be very enormous. The president also expressed his condolences
for the recent death of Obama's grandmother.
Obama responded by expressing warm feelings towards Korea as well as towards
President Lee, calling himself a "great admirer of your country and people,"
according to spokesman Lee.
"Obama said he came to have friendly feelings for South Korea, as he has had many
contacts with Korean-Americans while growing up in Hawaii. He said that bulgogi
and kimchi are his favorite things to eat for lunch," said the spokesman.
Bulgogi, a marinated meat dish, and kimchi, a fermented vegetable dish, are two
staple Korean foods and are gaining popularity worldwide.
"In addition, Obama displayed a strong interest in the personal history of
President Lee, saying he respects and is well aware of the president's life and
that his accomplishments at Hyundai were very meaningful. Obama also praised Lee
for his fluency in English, saying 'an-nyung-ha-se-yo' (hello and how are you?)
is the only Korean he knows."
In concluding the phone call, President Lee again stressed the need for closer
international partnerships in handling the financial crisis, energy, resources,
environment, poverty and other pending global issues, said the spokesman.
"South Korea and the U.S. have to closely cooperate in order to maintain peace
and stability in Northeast Asia, as well as on the Korean Peninsula, and to
resolve the North Korean nuclear problem. I will work together with
President-elect Obama in developing the traditional alliance into a 21st century
strategic alliance," President Lee was quoted as saying.
President Lee is scheduled to meet with a group of Obama's foreign and security
policy advisers under the auspices of the Brookings Institution shortly after his
arrival in Washington D.C. on Nov. 14.
Lee and Obama's advisers are expected to exchange views on pending issues related
to North Korea, the long-overdue Korea-U.S. free trade agreement deal and the
readjustment of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea. The South Korean president
may also seek Obama's support for his policy to denuclearize and open North Korea
and to raise North Korea's per capita income to US$3,000.
SEOUL, Nov. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Friday agreed to further reinforce the two countries' bilateral alliance and to closely cooperate in addressing the global financial crisis and North Korean nuclear issue, Lee's spokesman said.
Lee and Obama discussed these issues during a telephone conversation held early
Friday morning (Korean time), said presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan.
President Lee and Obama shared the view that a stronger alliance between South
Korea and the U.S. would promote peace and stability in Asia, according to the
spokesman.
The two leaders also agreed to meet in the nearest possible future, raising
speculation that they may hold one-on-one talks on the sidelines of the Group of
20 financial summit slated for Nov. 15 in Washington D.C.
Lee will travel to the U.S. later this month to attend the Group of 20 summit,
while Obama's attendance has yet to be confirmed.
"Obama called Lee at 7:17 a.m. and they spoke mostly about the South Korea-U.S.
alliance and Asian security issues for about 12 minutes. Most of their
conversation was conducted without an interpreter," said the spokesman.
"Obama said relations between South Korea and the U.S. are already solid and he
wanted to further beef up the alliance, because their closer relations will be a
cornerstone for peace and stability in Asia. Obama also stressed the importance
of bilateral economic and security relations, while expressing hope for closer
personal relations with President Lee."
The next U.S. president went on to suggest that Seoul and Washington cooperate
more closely in dealing with the global financial crisis and issues relating to
North Korea, according to the spokesman.
President Lee began the conversation by sincerely congratulating Obama on his
landslide election victory and said the American people's expectations for change
and hope appear to be very enormous. The president also expressed his condolences
for the recent death of Obama's grandmother.
Obama responded by expressing warm feelings towards Korea as well as towards
President Lee, calling himself a "great admirer of your country and people,"
according to spokesman Lee.
"Obama said he came to have friendly feelings for South Korea, as he has had many
contacts with Korean-Americans while growing up in Hawaii. He said that bulgogi
and kimchi are his favorite things to eat for lunch," said the spokesman.
Bulgogi, a marinated meat dish, and kimchi, a fermented vegetable dish, are two
staple Korean foods and are gaining popularity worldwide.
"In addition, Obama displayed a strong interest in the personal history of
President Lee, saying he respects and is well aware of the president's life and
that his accomplishments at Hyundai were very meaningful. Obama also praised Lee
for his fluency in English, saying 'an-nyung-ha-se-yo' (hello and how are you?)
is the only Korean he knows."
In concluding the phone call, President Lee again stressed the need for closer
international partnerships in handling the financial crisis, energy, resources,
environment, poverty and other pending global issues, said the spokesman.
"South Korea and the U.S. have to closely cooperate in order to maintain peace
and stability in Northeast Asia, as well as on the Korean Peninsula, and to
resolve the North Korean nuclear problem. I will work together with
President-elect Obama in developing the traditional alliance into a 21st century
strategic alliance," President Lee was quoted as saying.
President Lee is scheduled to meet with a group of Obama's foreign and security
policy advisers under the auspices of the Brookings Institution shortly after his
arrival in Washington D.C. on Nov. 14.
Lee and Obama's advisers are expected to exchange views on pending issues related
to North Korea, the long-overdue Korea-U.S. free trade agreement deal and the
readjustment of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea. The South Korean president
may also seek Obama's support for his policy to denuclearize and open North Korea
and to raise North Korea's per capita income to US$3,000.
