Seoul, Auckland Agree to Peaceful NK Solution
Korea-Net
Release Date: 7/25/2003
South Korea and New Zealand on Friday (July 25) agreed to closely cooperate to find a peaceful solution to the ongoing standoff over the North Korean nuclear program.
President Roh Moo-hyun and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark also agreed to promote bilateral exchanges and strengthen economic cooperation during a summit held at Cheong Wa Dae.
Roh called for New Zealand's support for South Korea¡¯s policy of peace and prosperity toward North Korea and his vision for the creation of an Asia-Pacific community.
The New Zealand premier is visiting here for the 50th anniversary of the signing of the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War.
New Zealand, along with other 15 countries, was a member of the UN coalition forces that sent combat troops to help the South fight against North Korea.
Clark is set to pay tribute to its troops at the UN Cemetery in Busan on Saturday and attend a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the agreement on Sunday at the truce village of Panmunjeom. She plans to return home Monday (July 28).
Roh and Clark also discussed signing a free trade agreement between the two nations and promoting exchanges in the film industry.
Clark expressed hope for the bilateral trade pact, while Roh maintained a cautious attitude, citing the need for Korea to buy time to prepare for a possible agreement, especially in the area of agriculture,¡± Lee Hae-sung, presidential secretary for public relations, said.
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