South Korean officials welcomed comments from a visiting U.S. official that Washington’s review of policy on North Korea would be wrapped up soon, but remained non-committal on President Bush’s plan to build a national missile defense system.
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly left Seoul on Thursday after two days of talks with South Korean officials including President Kim Dae-jung, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Han Seung-soo, Defense Minister Kim Dong-shin and Unification Minister Lim Dong-won.
Armitage told President Kim and Minister Lim that the North Korean policy review will be "wrapped up within a few weeks," spokesmen for the president’s office and the Unification Ministry said. Both spokesmen said the South Korean government was pleased with the news.
Officials in Seoul have expressed mounting concern that prolonging the policy review would seriously damage relations between the two Koreas that had been gradually warming since the Inter-Korean Summit held last June. Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have been stymied since the review began.
Korean officials also told Armitage that finishing the review and resuming a dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang could clear the way for a visit to Seoul by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. Kim told European Union officials who met with him in Pyongyang that he would not visit Seoul until the U.S. policy review is finished.
Armitage also briefed Defense Minister Kim on the missile defense shield, a ministry spokesman said. The spokesman said Armitage said the new plan "includes the possibility of a unilateral nuclear weapons reduction, and will move the U.S. strategic focus from Europe to Asia."
The spokesman said officials taking part in the forum told Armitage they understood that the United States wants the system to protect it and its allies and said Washington should consult closely with its allies as the plan is developed.
Meanwhile, the main opposition Grand National Party issued a statement on Thursday calling the missile defense plan "directly connected to the security" of South Korea. It called on the government "to consider the national interest first" as it considers the plan.
The Grand National Party has publicly expressed support for the plan while some members of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party have publicly criticized it.
Armitage headed for India from Seoul to continue trying to drum up international support for the missile defense system. He also will visit China before returning to Washington.
Kelly headed for Australia, Singapore and Vietnam.
Bae Gi-chul contributed to this report.