Ra in US to Discuss Troop Dispatch
2003-10-13
Senior Advisor of National Security Ra Jong-yil on Sunday (Oct. 12) left for the United States to discuss troop contributions to U.S. efforts in Iraq and the North Korean nuclear crisis with senior Washington officials.
During his four-day visit, Ra is to meet with his U.S. counterpart, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. Ra is accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck.
Lee will meet separately with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly. The two men represented their nations at the six-way talks on North Korea's nukes in August.
''South Korea's troop dispatch to Iraq will become a central issue,'' a senior government official, who asked not to be named, said yesterday.
Despite heavy popular resistance to the troop dispatch, he conveyed the mood in Chong Wa Dae is strongly leaning towards accepting the U.S. demand.
Although some view a delay in the issue due to the turbulent domestic political situation, officials and experts alike pointed out a decision may be imminent.
''In light of cooperation with the U.S., we cannot put off making a decision indefinitely. We have to make up our minds pretty soon,'' a Foreign Affairs-Trade Ministry official said.
The government has said the passage of a U.N. Security Council resolution on Iraq, the overall ROK-U.S. alliance, public opinion and the situation in Iraq will all be taken into consideration in finalizing a decision.
President Roh Moo-hyun has made comments linking the troop dispatch issue with the North Korean nuclear crisis, tacitly urging the U.S. to come up with a detailed counterproposal on the issue.
Source : www.korea.net
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