Reach Out to North, Kim Advises Powell

President Kim Dae-jung told U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Friday that the United States must "actively step forth for the resumption of dialogue with North Korea."

They met in the Blue House on the first day of Mr. Powell's visit to Seoul. The U.S. secretary earlier met with South Korea's foreign and trade minister, Han Seung-soo, who delivered the same message.

"I believe North Korea has great intentions to improve relations with the United States," President Kim said, emphasizing, "Inter-Korean relations and North Korea-U.S. relations must run in parallel."

He added that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il understood the outside world and the need to improve relations with Washington better than anyone else in North Korea.

He urged the United States to extend aid to the beleaguered North with confidence.

Mr. Powell replied that the United States wants dialogue with Pyongyang at all times anywhere, and that it had conveyed to the North its readiness to unconditionally deal with all agenda items. He emphasized that Washington neither wants nor needs an enemy.

He also expressed hope for a second inter-Korean summit meeting.

To Mr. Han, Mr. Powell reiterated the importance of the early inspection of past nuclear sites in North Korea by the International Atomic Energy Agency, and of finding a verifiable way to end Pyongyang's missile development and export programs and to reduce its conventional weapons. The secretary said there were no preconditions to dialogue, but added that the Bush administration does not intend to engage in talks by being pulled around by Pyongyang.

Mr. Powell plans to leave Saturday morning for China.

by Lee Chul-hee