Reuters North American News Service, January 14th, 2008
SEOUL, Jan 14 (Reuters) - South Korea's president-elect
said on Monday he was willing to meet North Korean leader Kim
Jong-il if it would help in ending his reclusive neighbour's
nuclear weapons programme.
Lee Myung-bak, who takes office on Feb. 25, has pledged to
take a tough line with Pyongyang, but also said he would
implement a massive aid package for the impoverished state if
it abandons nuclear arms.
"The leaders of the South and the North can meet any time
if it helps in the dismantling of North Korean nuclear
programmes and with other affairs," Lee told a news conference.
Outgoing President Roh Moo-hyun, criticised for giving away
too much to North Korea for little in return, met the North's
leader last October for only the second summit between the two
states that remain technically at war, having ended their
1950-53 conflict with a ceasefire instead of a peace treaty.
Lee said his government would be willing to follow through
on the pledges Roh made for aid, which could be worth billions
of dollars, "as long as they meet business feasibility
standards".
Lee, a former CEO of Hyundai's construction arm, has said
he would tie aid to progress the North makes in taking apart
its nuclear programme, considered one of the region's greatest
security threats.
North Korea failed to meet a year-end deadline set in an
international disarmament deal to give a full accounting of its
fissile material and weaponry as well as answer U.S. suspicions
of having a clandestine programme to enrich uranium for arms.
Lee also said he would work to improve ties with the United
States, which have been strained under the Roh government,
arguing this would be helpful for North Korea because it would
reduce distrust.
(Reporting by Yoo Choonsik and Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Alex
Richardson)
