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Seoul Vows to Seek Inter-Korean Peace Agreement
South Korean President Kim Dae-jung said Friday he will actively seek the establishment of an inter-Korean peace regime within the framework of the four-way talks for peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to a government press release.
In order to make consistent progress of the inter-Korean ties, diplomacy is important, Kim said, noting that both Seoul and Pyongyang created momentum for epochal change in their relations last year and should try to establish a peace regime.
South Korean cooperation with the United States and Japan is important in the course of pursuing improvement in inter-Korean relations, particularly in preparing Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il's visit to Seoul, the president was quoted as saying when he was briefed on a diplomatic report by the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry on major diplomatic goals in 2001.
"To that end, Korea-US relations and the summit talks slated for early next month are very important," Kim stressed.
The president pointed out that the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula can be made possible only when the DPRK becomes a member of the international community through reform and openness.
South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Lee Joung-binn said Friday that Seoul will continue to push for the early opening of four-party talks involving Seoul, Pyongyang, Beijing and Washington to build a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea will coordinate its policy toward the DPRK with the United States through the scheduled summit between President Kim and U.S. President George W. Bush on March 7 in Washington and will consistently strengthen cooperation with Tokyo as well, Lee said.
Meanwhile, the minister added that South Korea will help the DPRK gain entry into the Asian Development Bank and participate in Asia-Europe Meeting and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation projects.
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