Lee, Clinton concur on stronger alliance

(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks from presidential aides, more details; RESTRUCTURES)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Friday called
on the new U.S. government to strengthen cooperation with Seoul in resolving the
North Korean nuclear crisis as he met with the visiting U.S. secretary of state.
"It is very important for us to strengthen the relations between (South Korea and
the U.S.), as well as those with Japan, China and Russia to resolve the North
Korean issue and other issues," Lee told Hillary Clinton, who arrived here
Thursday night.
The five countries and North Korea are involved in the stalled six-nation talks
aimed at denuclearizing the communist nation.
The president said there were "certainly difficulties" in inter-Korean relations,
but he noted North Korea would give up its nuclear ambition if the five countries
continue to talk to the communist nation, according to his spokesman Lee
Dong-kwan.
"There are views North Korea will not give up its nuclear ambition, but I believe
there is a possibility it will give up its nukes if the countries continue to
persuade the North through the six-party talks," the president was quoted as
saying.
Christopher Hill, the chief U.S. negotiator in the six-party talks who was
accompanying Clinton on her visit here, agreed, saying the countries must
continue to remind North Korea of the huge political and economic toll it will
pay if it continues to move down the nuclear path, the presidential spokesman
said.
Clinton thanked Lee for the warm welcome she has received here and said the U.S.
is also "very much looking forward" to working with its Asian ally to overcome
international security issues, such as North Korea's nuclear program and the
global economic crisis.
"I bring greetings from President Obama and he hopes to see you at G-20," Clinton
said, referring to the April summit set to be held in London.
Lee expressed hope Washington will demonstrate its leadership at the upcoming
G-20 summit to help bring the world out of the ongoing economic crisis, also
stressing the importance of concerted spending by all governments, according to
his spokesman.
"The global economy can recover when all the countries in the world increase
their government spending at the same time. The world can overcome the crisis
when each nation of the G-20 spends at least 2 percent of their countries' gross
domestic product," the spokesman quoted Lee as saying.
The U.S. secretary agreed, telling Lee she would relay his advice to President
Obama.
The South Korean president noted Clinton's visit underlined the strength of the
Korea-U.S. alliance, which he said was "forged in blood" during the 1950-53
Korean War, in which over 30,000 U.S. soldiers were killed.
"I have much faith and confidence that your tenure as secretary of state will be
very successful," Lee told Clinton, the highest U.S. official to visit Seoul
since the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama late last month.
Clinton said the Korea-U.S. alliance remained "unshakable," also noting 25,000
U.S. soldiers stationed here was strong evidence of the U.S. commitment to the
defense of South Korea, according to Lee, the senior presidential spokesman.
Following their meeting, President Lee hosted a luncheon for the visiting U.S.
secretary, which, according to a vice presidential spokesperson, was very
"business-like."
"The luncheon, in one word, was like a business luncheon. Unlike the usual
luncheons (hosted by the president), all participants at the earlier meeting were
also present at the luncheon, allowing serious and in-depth discussions," Kim
Eun-hye told a press briefing.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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