S. Korean president heads to Japan for summit talks

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, June 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak left for Japan on
Sunday for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on ways to increase
security cooperation between their countries amid escalating tension over North
Korea's continued drive to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
Pyongyang is likely to top the agenda at the summit meeting, as it follows the
North's nuclear test last month and threats to make more nuclear weapons.
South Korea and Japan are members of six-nation talks aimed at denuclearizing
North Korea, a forum that also involves the U.S., China and Russia. Pyongyang
withdrew from the talks in protest at the U.N. condemnation of its long-range
rocket launch in April, criticized as a disguised missile test.
Seoul is now seeking five-way consultations without the North.
"Ways to strengthen security cooperation between the countries will likely be the
top agenda for the summit," an official from Seoul's presidential office Cheong
Wa Dae said of the Lee-Aso summit, to be held in Tokyo later Sunday.
Strengthening the so-called "mature partnership" between Seoul and Tokyo will be
another major agenda at the Lee-Aso meeting, the Cheong Wa Dae official said.
"Other topics will also include negotiations for a free trade agreement between
the two countries and an agreement on nuclear energy cooperation," the official
said.
The two leaders will hold a joint press conference after their summit.
Lee's one-day trip will include a meeting with South Korean and Japanese business
leaders at Aso's office and talks with the head of Japan's New Clean Government
Party, or New Komeito Party, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
Lee will return late Sunday evening after an official dinner hosted by the
Japanese prime minister.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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