President Lee Myung-bak will hold a summit with the U.S. President George W.Bush in Camp David during his visit to the United States from April 18 to 19.

Prior to this, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-hwan met with leading US officials, including U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley on his visit to the U.S. from March 25 to 29. During the meetings, extensive and constructive discussions on major issues of mutual interest took place including those on preparation for the upcoming summit in mid-April; concerted efforts of the two countries for the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue; situation on Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia; and bilateral cooperation on global issues. Minister Yu met with other personages such as Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, President Emeritus of Council on Foreign Relations Leslie Gelb and President of National Committee on American Foreign Policy George D.Schwab, as well as those of academic circle including heads of Center for Strategic and International Studies(CSIS), United States Institute of Peace(USIP) and Brookings Institution. 

    

Preliminary discussion for coordinating Korea-U.S. summit

In the talks between Minister Yu and leading U.S. officials, both sides shared a view that upcoming Korea-U.S. summit in mid-April will be a milestone for further developing the Korea-U.S. relationship and strengthening the foundation of trust for the bilateral alliance. They agreed to exert every effort to make the summit a success.

Korea-U.S. alliance

Minister Yu and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice noted that the Korea-U.S. Alliance has played a major role in promoting security and economic development on the Korean Peninsula and in securing peace and stability in Northeast Asia for the past 50 years. They agreed to exert collaborative efforts to further develop the alliance for the increase of mutual benefits based on common values and understanding.

In the bilateral meeting with Minister Yu, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates noted that the readjustment of the Korea-U.S. alliance is going smoothly under close cooperation of both government. Minister Yu suggested that the two sides continue to have consultations on major pending issues of the alliance in a mutually beneficial way in the interest of the peoples of both countries, respecting each other's views at the same time.

Peaceful resolution of the North Korean Issue

Foreign Ministers of both countries agreed to work closely within the framework of the Six Party Talks. They agreed to increase efforts so that the on-going second phase of denuclearization can be completed and next phase of the nuclear dismantlement can start at the earliest date possible.

Ratification of Korea-US FTA and Korea's participation to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program

Minister Yu and Secretary Rice shared an understanding that the early ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement will benefit both countries, and agreed to push forward actively its ratification. Also, the two sides agreed to exert utmost efforts to build more institutional frameworks for the development of Korea-U.S. relations, by expediting the process of Korea's participation to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.

Extending the scope of the bilateral cooperation onto key global issues

Minister Yu and Secretary Rice agreed to find ways to extend the scope of the Korea-U.S. cooperation onto key global issues such as restoring peace and helping with reconstruction in the conflict-torn areas, eradicating poverty, promoting human rights and dealing with climate change.