(LEAD) Lee says will meet N. Korean leader anywhere to resolve nuclear issue

(ATTN: UPDATES with additional remarks, minor changes)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Saturday
that he is ready to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il "anytime
and anywhere" if it will help resolve problems facing the divided Koreas, such as
the North's nuclear ambition and the issue of South Korean citizens abducted by
the communist nation.

"I have no political reason to hold a summit (with Kim), but I can meet him at
any time if it will help convince North Korea to give up its nuclear programs and
resolve humanitarian issues, such as South Korean prisoners of war and those who
were abducted," the president said in a live television program that began late
Friday.
Lee's remarks followed recent media reports that ranking officials from South and
North Korea secretly met in Singapore to discuss a possible summit between their
leaders, though government officials in Seoul denied it.
Lee said a summit, along with any dialogue between the two Koreas, will be
arranged and held transparently.
"It is difficult to publicly talk about a summit, but the government plans to
take a very normal course of steps," he said.
The president noted his country is entitled to demand a visit by the North Korean
leader for a summit here because the first two rounds of inter-Korean summits in
2000 and 2007 were both held in Pyongyang, but said he is willing to give up such
an attitude at least for the next round.
"I think it does not have to be held within the territory of South Korea if such
a summit will help resolve such issues. Because the denuclearization of the
Korean Peninsula is such an important issue, I plan to meet (Kim) at any time and
anywhere, as long as our objective of such a summit will be achieved," Lee said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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