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US President George W. Bush and South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun expressed on Wednesday their confidence in a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
In a joint statement issued after their first summit at the White House, Bush and Roh reaffirmed that humanitarian assistance to the DPRK is provided without linkage to political developments on the Korean Peninsula.
But the two presidents also vowed to halt the DPRK's alleged nuclear programs, warning Pyongyang that its "escalatory moves will only lead to its greater isolation."
"President Bush and President Roh reaffirmed that they will not tolerate nuclear weapons in North Korea (DPRK), ...reiterated their strong commitment to work for the complete, verifiable and irreversible elimination of North Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear weapons program through peaceful means based on international cooperation," the statement said.
As to bilateral relations, the two leaders agreed to work out plans to consolidate US forces around key hubs in the Asia-Pacific region and to relocate US forces in South Korea at an early date.
Bush reaffirmed US commitment to "a robust forward presence" on the Korean peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific region, and pledged to consult closely with President Roh on the appropriate posture for US forces in South Korea during the transition to a more capable and sustainable US military presence on the peninsula, according to the statement.
The two leaders also discussed economic relationships and agreed to increase bilateral cooperation across a broad range of global issues.
Roh arrived in the United States on Monday for a week-long visit.
(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2003)
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