Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=12/20/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH/SOUTH KOREA (S-ONLY UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-297655

BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush has congratulated South Korea's president-elect, Roh Moo-hyun. V-O-A's Scott Stearns reports, the White House says it supports Mr. Roh's move to improve relations with North Korea.

TEXT: White House spokesman Ari Fleischer says President Bush telephoned Mr. Roh Friday to congratulate him on winning South Korea's election.

/// FLEISCHER ACT ///

The president and the president-elect agreed to work closely together to promote peace on the Korean peninsula and to further strengthen the U-S-South Korean alliance.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Fleischer says Mr. Roh accepted the president's invitation to visit Washington at his earliest convenience.

Mr. Roh's election took place amid a surge of anti-American sentiment, fueled by the recent acquittals of two U-S soldiers, whose armored vehicle accidentally hit and killed two South Korean girls last June.

Mr. Roh wants more South Korean jurisdiction over the 37-thousand U-S troops in the country. The former human rights lawyer also wants closer ties with North Korea.

Mr. Fleischer says President Bush supports improved relations between the two Koreas, even as he is working with China, Russia, and Japan on a common approach to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program. (SIGNED)

NEB/SKS/TW