S. Korean president wraps up U.S. trip with strong words for N. Korea

By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, June 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak headed home
Wednesday after summit talks with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama calling on
North Korea to behave or face serious consequences.

Lee's departure wrapped up a three-day visit here, during which the South Korean
leader also held talks with various U.S. officials and lawmakers to win their
support for what the two presidents called a "new and comprehensive" alliance
between their countries.
"Over (the past half-century), our security alliance has strengthened and our
partnership has widened to encompass political, economic, social and cultural
cooperation," Lee and Obama said in their "Joint Vision for the Alliance," issued
at the end of their Tuesday summit.
"Together, on this solid foundation, we will build a comprehensive strategic
alliance of bilateral, regional and global scope, based on common values and
mutual trust," the joint statement said.
The two also agreed to move forward with a free trade agreement (FTA) signed by
their countries two years ago, saying the ratification of the deal will benefit
both nations and also help fight the global economic crisis.
Lee's trip here began with a series of meetings with ranking U.S. officials,
including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates,
as Lee sought to win Washington's support for what South Korean officials have
called a "united and decisive" front against North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
This week's summit came amid concerns that North Korea may go ahead with more
nuclear tests. Pyongyang conducted its second nuclear detonation on May 25 and
is reportedly preparing to test launch ballistic missiles.
Lee and Obama took a firm tone Tuesday as they told Pyongyang to choose to be a
either a peaceful, responsible member of the international community or a
belligerent and provocative nation that will be dealt with through the "serious
enforcement of sanctions."
This, they said, was the start of their efforts to break a "pattern" of North
Korean provocations followed by rewards and concession from the international
community.
"The message we are sending -- and when I say 'we,' not simply the United States
and the Republic of Korea, but I think the international community -- is we are
going to break that pattern," Obama said in a joint press conference with Lee
after their summit.
The leaders also agreed to significantly improve their countries' economic ties
as they called for efforts to chart a way forward for the FTA.
Seoul had been working to quickly enact the deal, but the Obama administration
has often voiced reluctance, citing the possible impact on the U.S. auto
industry.
"What I have done was to affirm to President Lee that we want to work with Korea
to resolve the issues that are preventing free trade," the U.S. president told
the press conference.
Lee extended an invitation for Obama to visit his country for follow-up talks in
the near future.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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