(2nd LD) Leaders of S. Korea, U.S. hold summit over alliance, N. Korea

(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks from Lee, Obama in paras 3-6)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and U.S.
President Barack Obama met here Thursday in a bilateral summit to discuss ways to
improve their countries' alliance and bring North Korea back to negotiations on
ending its nuclear ambition.
The Lee-Obama meeting, the third since Obama came into office in February, was
also expected to focus on ways to move forward a free trade agreement signed over
two years ago, according to officials at Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa
Dae.
"Let me just say we have been so gratified by the warm welcome by which we were
received here in the Republic of Korea," Obama told Lee at the start of their
summit, referring to South Korea by its official name.
"I think that has every indication that our alliance is strong," he said.
The U.S. president also praised the economic development of South Korea as one of
the reasons why the country was now taking on important roles in the
international community.
Lee welcomed Obama's visit that followed his earlier trips to Japan and China,
saying he believes the U.S. president saved "the best" for last.
The U.S. president arrived here Wednesday as part of his four-nation Asia tour
that has also taken him to Singapore for the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation.
The leaders were later joined by their key ministers for a 30-minute "expanded"
summit, according to Cheong Wa Dae officials.
The U.S. president's first trip to South Korea was met by both a warm welcome and
opposition as conservative civic organizations celebrated half a century of the
alliance between South Korea and the U.S. while liberal groups demanded a more
equal footing between the countries.
A group of activists on Wednesday claimed the U.S. president was only seeking to
win Seoul's support for its war in Afghanistan, to which South Korea has decided
to send additional aid workers and troops to protect them.
Lee and Obama will hold a joint press conference after their summit, to be
followed by a state lunch hosted by the South Korean president.
Obama will visit a U.S. military base to meet with a group of American
servicemembers stationed here before heading home later Thursday.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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