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Lee rules out politically motivated summit with Kim
By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new president, Lee Myung-bak, said he agrees on the need for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, but won't push for such a meeting for domestic political gains, according to Newsweek's online edition Sunday.
"The leaders of the two Koreas should think about how to improve the lives of their 70 million people," Lee said in his interview with the U.S.-published magazine.
"If we open up our minds, sit down and discuss these matters heart to heart, a summit would be helpful. (But) I will not have a formal summit just for the sake of domestic politics," said Lee, who will be sworn in as South Korea's new president Monday.
Lee then reiterated his determination to denuclearize North Korea.
"There shouldn't be any nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. The South and North should seek joint prosperity while maintaining peace. The North should also become independent economically. We cannot seek that kind of relationship, and (ultimately) unification, if the North keeps its nuclear weapons," said Lee.
He made clear that inter-Korean economic cooperation projects won't expand if international talks over North Korean nuclear weapons are deadlocked.
Turning to ties with the U.S., Lee said his government will pursue a "future-oriented relationship" with Washington. "In the beginning, Korea received unilateral help from the U.S. in both security and economic matters. But now we need a future-oriented relationship."
ycm@yna.co.kr
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