U.S. representatives meet with S. Korean president, foreign minister

(ATTN: UPDATES with additional remarks from President Lee, more details)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Yonhap) -- A group of U.S. lawmakers met Thursday with South
Korea's defense and foreign ministers for talks on bilateral issues, including
the ratification of a free trade agreement (FTA) signed between the two countries
nearly two years ago and a dispute over North Korea's nuclear program, a foreign
ministry official said.

The group consists of Ike Skelton, chairman of the U.S. House Armed Services
Committee, and some 10 other members of the committee.
"Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan expressed his gratitude for the efforts by U.S.
Congress to develop South Korea-U.S. relations and asked for further U.S. support
for many issues of mutual concern for the countries, such as the ratification of
the FTA and development of the Korea-U.S. alliance," Moon Tae-young, a spokesman
for the foreign ministry told reporters regarding a lunch meeting between Yu and
U.S. representatives at Yu's official residence.
The U.S. delegates "stressed the importance of cooperation between South Korea
and the United States to end the North Korean nuclear issue and called for
progress in bilateral issues such as the FTA," according to the spokesman.
The luncheon was also attended by Kathleen Stephens, the U.S. ambassador to
Korea, and Gen. Walter Sharp, the chief of some 28,500 U.S. troops stationed here
who also heads the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command and the United Nations
Command.
Skelton and other representatives later paid a courtesy call on South Korean
President Lee Myung-bak, who personally thanked the U.S. delegates for visiting
the country in a brief meeting.
"We have very special guests here today. I am very excited to see members of the
U.S. House Armed Services Committee from both (Democratic and Republican) parties
come visit us, especially when the South-North relationship is undergoing
tension," Lee said.
"The two countries will continue to strengthen their cooperative relationship in
defense, security and trade based on their strong alliance and trust," the
president was later quoted as telling the visiting delegates.
The U.S. delegation's visit came as North Korea appears to be preparing for a
long-range missile test, a move that been strongly criticized and denounced by
both Seoul and Washington.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also due here later Thursday for
discussions on the communist North and other bilateral issues with her South
Korean counterpart, Yu Myung-hwan.
"The visit by such a large number of U.S. House representatives and Secretary of
State Clinton immediately following the inauguration of the new U.S.
administration represents the importance of the Korea-U.S. alliance," Kim
Eun-hye, a spokeswoman for the South Korean presidential office, said in a
released statement.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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