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The Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Yoon Tae-young officially corrected the statement he made Tuesday that President Roh Moo-hyun had indicated at the summit in Japan that he would reject all measures beside dialogue in solving the North Korean nuclear issue. Yoon said the report was false, and that he had misunderstood the president's words because Roh talks fast.
Yoon said that instead of rejecting all measures beyond dialogue, Roh had only indicated that there were voices rejecting or expressing concern about such measures. Yoon took responsibility for the mistake, and said it was due to Roh's rapid speaking style.
Asked why, on an issue as sensitive as this, he did not come forward with the correction for 24 hours, Yoon said that he had no notes on the president's speech, and that he only realized the mistake late Tuesday night when he met with the president. He said that Roh had been unaware of the mistaken report. Insiders said the president reacted angrily and reprimanded Yoon.
Yoon also denied that the correction was made to reduce the repercussions of what would appear to be a policy reversal.
(Choi Won-kyu, wkchoi@chosun.com )
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