Lee, Arroyo call for better ties, efforts to contain N. Korea

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Philippine
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo agreed Saturday to improve ties between their
countries and join efforts to peacefully resolve the North Korea nuclear issue.
"President Lee and President Arroyo agreed to continue developing new areas of
cooperation that will provide new engines of sustainable growth in the 21st
century while expanding and deepening the countries' cooperation in economic and
trade sectors," Seoul's presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, said in a press
release.
Arroyo arrived here earlier Saturday on her second state visit to Seoul. She will
attend a special summit between Lee and leaders of the 10-member Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the southern resort island of Jeu next week.
Lee and Arroyo noted the relationship between Korea and the Philippines has
continuously improved over the 60 years since 1949, when they established formal
ties.
"The leaders of the two countries agreed there is a need to further strengthen
the foundation of their cooperation by expanding and improving their bilateral
ties in education and cultural sectors that will include increased personnel
exchanges," Cheong Wa Dae said.
The two also expressed deep concerns over North Korea's recent nuclear test while
calling on Pyongyang to observe U.N. Security Council decisions and to
immediately return to the six-party talks, it said.
The Security Council is negotiating a resolution to condemn the North's second
nuclear test that took place on Monday and impose economic and diplomatic
sanctions on the communist nation.
North Korea is already prohibited from nuclear or ballistic missile activities
and any weapons trade under a Security Council resolution adopted in 2006
following its first nuclear test.
Pyongyang said Friday it will take further "self-defense counter-measures" should
the U.N. condemn its second nuclear test.
The North Korean nuclear issue is expected to be again addressed when the South
Korean president is joined by Arroyo and other leaders of ASEAN nations.
The two-day Korea-ASEAN summit, beginning Monday, will commemorate the 20th
anniversary of the establishment of dialogue partnership between the two sides.
ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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