S. Korea, New Zealand to discuss FTA, global security

By Lee Chi-dong

SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Yonhap) -- The foreign ministers of South Korea and New Zealand were to hold talks here Tuesday on their push for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) and ways to cooperate on global issues such as the North Korean nuclear program and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, officials said.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully arrived in Seoul on Monday for a
two-day stay. He is scheduled to meet his South Korean counterpart Yu Myung-hwan
for talks followed by a luncheon meeting.
"In their talks, the ministers will mainly discuss the FTA issue," a South Korean
foreign ministry official said. But he said there won't be any concrete agreement
as trade officials from the two countries will be consulting on the details in
the coming days, including the timing of the start of negotiations.
They will also exchange views on the North Korean nuclear crisis, global efforts
to stabilize Afghanistan and Pakistan, and upcoming multilateral summits
including the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in Singapore next month, he said.
McCully also plans to meet Unification Minister Hyun In-taek, Seoul's point man
on Pyongyang, on Tuesday afternoon, according to Hyun's aides.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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