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The meeting between Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki-moon and United States President George W. Bush was not a planned one. Ban was initially at the White House to talk with National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice. It is extremely rare for the U.S. head of state to meet with visiting foreign ministers other than during summit gatherings. The meeting lasted for approximately thirty minutes and was attended by Rice, Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly, and Michael Green, Director of Asian Affairs for the National Security Council.
President Bush asked Ban four questions, reported Kim Sook, head of the Korean foreign ministry's North American affairs bureau. He asked two questions; how Korea views the results of last week's six-way talks in Beijing, and whether Korea thinks the North really has any intention of renouncing its nuclear program.
To the first question, Ban said while Korea entirely satisfied with the results of the six-way talks, there were nevertheless a few positive signs, and to the second question, he responded by telling Bush that he believes ultimately North Korea will give up its nuclear designs.
Bush reportedly said he felt the talks were able to deliver the North a clear and common message about the need for it to forego its nuclear program, and that he has come to be confident that the North Korean nuclear issue can be resolved peacefully.
Bush then asked whether the Korean people are still nervous about the relocation of U.S. troops, to which Ban responded by saying that some in Korean society are indeed nervous about the moving of the U.S. military installation currently in Seoul's Yongsan neighborhood, but that "U.S. and Korean military authorities are working in agreement to quiet the concerns.
Bush then said that during a visit to Seoul, he was surprised to see an American military base in what for Korea must be expensive real estate. He said that the decision was made to relocate the installation because some Koreans were upset at the inability to put the land there to proper use.
Finally, Bush asked if the inter-Korean relationship had developed to the point where both sides were able to communicate by telephone. Ban told him that there ere 38 official contacts in 2003, and that there would be opportunity for contact in a multiparty context during the Association of Southeast Nations meeting this year.
Bush said he believes US-Korean relations are developing on a firm foundation, and praised President Roh Moo-hyun for his contributions to the relationship, saying he values the special relationship he believes he has with Roh. About the possibility he might visit Seoul this year in response to an invitation from Roh, however, Bush did not give a firm answer, saying only that he expects to be very busy.
(Joo Yong-joong, midway@chosun.com )
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