ROK Leader Backs Russian Stance on ABMPresident Kim Dae-Jung of the Republic of Korea(ROK) on Tuesday backed Russian support for the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty as a "cornerstone" of stability, implicitly opposing the proposed U.S. National Missile Defense System.A joint statement released after talks between Kim and Russia's President Vladimir Putin said the ABM treaty should be preserved and strengthened. The two leaders held summit talks on the second day of a state visit to Seoul by Putin. The ROK and Russia "agreed that the 1972 ABM Treaty is a cornerstone of strategic stability and an important foundation for international efforts on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation," said the joint communique. Russia contends that the proposed American missile defense system will breach the 1972 treaty. The ROK government is known to be wary of NMD but has not expressed open opposition to its key ally's missile shield. The joint communique did not mention NMD. The two leaders called for an early implementation of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty II (START II) and for the completion of a new strategic arms accord "while preserving and strengthening the ABM Treaty." Putin and Kim also heralded the results of last June's summit between the ROK president and DPRK's supreme leader Kim Jong-Il. Putin expressed Russia's "readiness and willingness to continuously contribute to easing tension and securing peace on the Korean peninsula," said the statement. |
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