President-elect Lee willing to meet Kim
Updated: 2008-01-15 07:50
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The Republic of Korea's (ROK) president-elect said Monday he would meet Kim Jong-il, leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), at any time to improve relations and persuade the DPRK to give up its nuclear weapons programs.
Lee Myung-bak, who will be inaugurated February 25, said he hoped a summit would take place in the ROK because the two previous summits between the Koreas in 2000 and 2007 were held in Pyongyang.
"If the summit between the leaders of South and North Korea will be a help in persuading the North to give up its nuclear programs and improve South-North Korean relations, I can meet him anytime," Lee said at a news conference in Seoul.
North Korea is another appellation for the DPRK.
Lee, a conservative former Seoul mayor, won last month's presidential election to end a decade of liberal rule in the ROK. He is considered less hard-line toward the DPRK than other ROK conservatives, but has called for more reciprocation from Pyongyang in return for Seoul's aid.
Lee also stressed the need to bolster ties with the United States, saying this would help develop relations between the two Koreas. The administration of current liberal President Roh Moo-hyun has had awkward relations with Washington, with the sides differing most notably on Seoul's policy of engagement with Pyongyang.
"Strengthened ties between South Korea and the US will be a help to North Korea," Lee said.
The two Koreas have improved relations since their leaders met for their first-ever summit in 2000.
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