Korean Sunshine Policy Promotes U.S. Interests, Kim Will Tell Bush

During his trip to Washington this week, President Kim Dae-jung is expected to try to persuade a skeptical Bush administration that his sunshine policy toward North Korea would also be in Washington's interest

"Mr. Kim is putting all his efforts into the coming summit meeting with George. W. Bush this Wednesday," a senior Blue House official said. "This is because the outcome of the summit will affect numerous issues, including inter-Korean relations in the last two years of his presidency."

Since the new U.S. administration took office in January, South Korean government officials have expressed concern that the conciliatory atmosphere on the Korean Peninsula created by the historic summit last year could evaporate as many of Mr. Bush's senior officials advocate a more demanding stance toward the North.

With the U.S. president likely to demand more concrete progress on controlling North Korea's weapons programs, Mr. Kim is expected to argue that a vital Seoul-Washington alliance, dedicated to reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, is also in accordance with U.S. interests, Seoul officials said.

Secretary of State, Colin L. Powell, said at his Senate confirmation hearing that the administration would move "without any sense of haste" to establish normal relations with North Korea.

Concerning the national missile defense system pursued by the Bush administration, Mr. Kim is expected to express sympathetic understanding of U.S. motives. "We are currently preparing for the visit so that this issue can be absolutely cleared," the official said.

However, South Korean government officials said that no "specific" ideas will be exchanged during the visit, as Washington is currently only in a preparatory stage for the plan.

If Mr. Bush stresses the necessity of the missile-shield plan, another senior government official said, "President Kim Dae-jung is likely to express hope that the U.S. government pursue its plan to the end that peace and stability are promoted in the international community and after holding consultations with its allies and related countries."

Privately, South Korean officials have expressed concern that the Bush administration's plan to develop a missile shield would hurt rapprochement with Pyongyang and possibly the planned return visit by North Korean leader to Seoul this year.

by Kim Jin-kook