S. Korean president meets U.S. experts over N. Korea

WASHINGTON, June 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak sought the support of America's opinion leaders Wednesday as his country faced threats of an economic slowdown due to the global financial crisis, as well as security threats from communist North Korea.

In a luncheon meeting with a group of U.S. experts on Korea and Korea-U.S.
relations, the South Korean leader asked for their support in dealing with the
provocative North.
"President Lee said his summit with President Barack Obama was an important
opportunity to further develop their countries' relationship and called for
increased cooperation between the two in pursuing the complete and verifiable
denuclearization of North Korea," the South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa
Dae said in a statement.
The meeting was attended by 11 officials and experts, including former U.S.
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Defense Secretary William Cohen.
The participants welcomed the outcome of the Lee-Obama summit held here Tuesday,
saying their agreement to strengthen and develop the Korea-U.S. alliance into a
strategic partnership will significantly contribute to their mutual interests, as
well as peace and security of the world, Cheong Wa Dae said in the release.
Lee and the U.S. experts also expressed hope for an early ratification of the
Korea-U.S. free trade agreement signed in 2007, stressing that increased
exchanges and economic cooperation will help the two nations create jobs and
overcome the global financial crisis, the statement said.