    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [October 20, 2003]
    [Pages 1363-1364]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea in Bangkok
    October 20, 2003

        President Bush. Thank you all for coming. It's my honor to have
    breakfast with a friend of the United States and a friend of mine,
    President Roh. We've got a very important and close relationship with
    South Korea. We share common goals. We want the world to be more free
    and peaceful. And that's why I'm so grateful for South Korea's support
    in places like Iraq.
        We also share a goal to enhance the prosperity of our respective
    peoples. We will discuss ways to make sure our trade between our
    countries is free and fair. We have a common goal to make sure that the
    Korean Peninsula is nuclear-weapons-free. We're making good progress on
    peacefully solving the issue with North Korea. And during this
    breakfast, I will share ideas and listen to ideas from President Roh as
    to how to move the process forward.
        These are important consultations with a close friend, and I want to
    thank the President for coming to have breakfast.
        President Roh. It is my pleasure to meet with President Bush--
    [inaudible]--and it is to my greater pleasure to meet with him--
    [inaudible]. Korea and the United States have been promoting the
    friendship between each other based on mutual trust, and we have been
    addressing the problem in this period of cooperation and friendship.
        The United States is currently making various efforts to promote
    global peace, and it has succeeded in winning the U.N. resolution
    regarding Iraq. And I would like to congratulate this meaningful
    progress.
        I appreciate that the United States has been making efforts to make
    progress in the areas related to North Korea, and this issue is very
    critical for--[inaudible]--and the further progress of Korea. And in
    this regard, the six-party talks--[inaudible]--progress. And I would
    like to thank United States for helping us to achieve this important
    milestone. And I am thankful for Mr. Bush for making more efforts to
    continue to resume the six-party talks in the near future.
        During today's breakfast with President Bush, I hope to have a
    meaningful dialog on how to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue and
    how to realign the--[inaudible]--alliance.
        At the same time, I would like to commend the United States' effort
    in bringing peace and democracy in Iraq, and I would like to discuss
    with him how to reconstruct the economy there, and I would like to
    discuss with him how Korea can cooperate in this regard. And I would
    have a meaningful discussion on these points.
        And in this meeting, I hope to have a serious discussion in
    accordance with the goals of the APEC in the areas of how to promote
    trade and mutual investment

    [[Page 1364]]

    and how to promote regional security. And I am sure that we will--
    [inaudible].
        Thank you.
        President Bush. Thank you very much, Mr. President. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:30 a.m. at the Grand Hyatt Erawan
    Bangkok. A tape was not available for verification of the content of
    these remarks.