Amid concerns about the ripple effects from the war in Afghanistan, President Kim Dae-jung sat down with the country's opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang Tuesday morning and in what was their first meeting in nine months, national security, public welfare and the economy topped the agenda.

President Kim and the Grand National Party head agreed to make bipartisan efforts to ride out the current economic tough times and heighten security especially as Korea co-hosts the World Cup soccer finals next year. Kim and Lee also sought ways to minimize the negative impact from the anti-terrorism war.

The two party leaders hammered out a five-point agreement including support for the US-led war against terrorism and the active use of a joint supra-partisan committee to deal with economic issues and the people’s welfare. In a joint statement they expressed backing for the US and said that the committee was necessary for a strong security posture both domestically and within the coalition against terrorists, in providing support and follow up measures.

Kim and Lee shared the view that difficulties in the world economy would lead to increased instability on Korean markets and agreed to come up with policies to aid the people’s everyday lives.

They also exchanged views on North Korea policy including rice aid, the Lee Yong-ho affair, the tax investigation into the media, and the meeting of United Liberal Democrats Honorary Chairman Kim Jong-pil and former president Kim Young-sam, though details remained cinfidential.

GNP Spokesman Kwon Chul-hyun said that the meeting meant the two sides were going to cooperate in alleviating problems in daily life, though he cautioned that if ongoing scandals were repeatedly blamed on the opposition and media, dialogue may be curtailed.

(Kim Min-bai, baibai@chosun.com )