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The U.S. has officially asked South Korea to join the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), a loose coalition of countries committed to stopping the spread of so-called weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
At a media roundtable held at the National Press Building in Washington on Tuesday on the fifth anniversary of the launching of the PSI, John Rood, acting U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, said, "We would certainly encourage them (South Korea) to join, and we've engaged in a number of discussions with them."
He continued, "The present government in Seoul is, I think, reviewing the issue. We will await the outcome of that." Rood noted that China has had "some concerns" about PSI activities, and the issue will be on the table at U.S.-China strategic security talks to be held in Beijing next week.
South Korea has so far been reluctant to fully participate in the PSI due to opposition from North Korea and China, but the Lee Myung-bak administration has been considering stepping up participation since its inauguration.
North Korea, which has been designated a proliferator of WMD by the U.S., has been especially hostile to South Korea's participation in the PSI, asserting that implementation of some sanctions would be considered an "act of war."
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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