Arms in the North Touchy Summit Issue

President Kim Dae-jung leaves for Washington Tuesday, with South Korean government officials privately expressing the hope that the issue of the North's conventional weapons program can be left off the summit agenda and dealt with later on when conditions ripen between the two Koreas.

Washington wants Pyongyang to reduce its conventional arms arsenal and offer transparency in its nuclear and missile programs as a basis for easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"We have delivered our position that during the Seoul-Washington summit, we should discuss comprehensive issues on bilateral relations and general policy toward North Korea, rather than specific issues," said a diplomatic source Monday, insisting upon anonymity. Washington has not responded, he added.

South Korean government officials privately said they believe that the issue should be addressed directly with North Korea by the Seoul government, as the North's weapons are directly linked to reduction of the South's armament.

"President Kim will try to persuade President Bush that the reduction of the North's conventional weapons is a long-term task and that it should be dealt at the inter-Korean defense ministers talks after mutual trust is built," another government source said.

Meanwhile, Blue House officials expressed optimism that Washington will not try to break the 1994 Geneva Agreement with Pyongyang in which the North agreed to freeze its nuclear program. In return, an international consortium is building two nuclear reactors in North Korea.

The six-day visit will include meetings with Secretary of State Colin Powell and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. chlee@joongang.co.kr

by Lee Chul-hee