Bush to visit station near DMZ

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Bush to visit station near DMZ

U.S. President George W. Bush and President Kim Dae-jung will visit Dorasan Station near the Demilitarized Zone Wednesday to dramatize Mr. Bush's support for Mr. Kim's reconciliation policy toward North Korea, the Blue House announced on Friday.

The station on the inter-Korean Gyeongui railway lies 56 kilometers north of Seoul and 205 kilometers south of Pyeongyang. Relinking the railway, severed half a century ago in the Korean war, was agreed upon by the leaders of the two Koreas in 2000.

The White House national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, said in Washington on Thursday [Washington time] that Mr. Bush would use the visit to urge North Korea to show a sincere and earnest attitude toward dialogue.

"We expect the two presidents' visit to Dorasan Station to provide an opportunity for them to reaffirm their commitment to peace on the Korean Peninsula," Park Sun-sook, presidential spokeswoman, said.

Mr. Bush is expected to make a 10-minute speech at the station. "Mr. Bush's support of the inter-Korean Gyeongui railway is also to emphasize that the construction, which involves work in the Demilitarized Zone, is not possible without the support of the U.S. forces stationed in the South," a South Korean government official said.

South Korea has completed its part of the construction and is waiting to begin work in the Demilitarized Zone. North Korea suspended work on its part of the 24-kilometer gap last year.

Mr. Bush arrives in Seoul Tuesday. His morning meeting with President Kim Wednesday, both alone and with advisers, is expected to take 80 minutes. After the afternoon railroad trip, the two presidents will meet again for 90 minutes over a dinner hosted by Mr. Kim.

Other Americans who will attend the dinner conference are Secretary of State Colin Powell, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Ms. Rice.

by Chun Young-gi

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