Clinton Welcomes the South-North Summit

Washington - US President Bill Clinton expressed his happiness with the announcement that a North-South summit would take place in June. President Clinton later sent messages of congratulation to President Kim Dae-jung of South Korea, and Kim Jung-il, the Chairman of the National Defense Committee of North Korea.

White House spokesman Joe Lockhart delivered the administration's official response. "I welcome the announcement that the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will hold an historic first summit in June. Direct dialogue between the two Koreas is something we have long advocated and is fundamental to solving the problems of the Korean Peninsula. This announcement is testimony to the wisdom and long-term vision of President Kim Dae-jung's engagement policy. I congratulate both leaders on their decision to meet."

The U.S. State Department announced that there were no changes scheduled in the status of U.S. military currently residing in South Korea. At the press conference, U.S. State Department spokesman James Rubin said that "North Korea discussed the issue of the U.S. military residing in South Korea. We are open to the discussion, but there is no plan to change the status of U.S. military residing in South Korea."

by Kim Jin