    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [November 17, 2005]
    [Pages 1729-1734]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With President Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea in Gyeongju, South Korea
    November 17, 2005

        President Roh. Good afternoon. I just had a very constructive and
    meaningful meeting with President Bush. Today's meeting is my fifth
    meeting with President Bush. The last time was 5 months ago, in June.
    Since this is his first visit to Korea during my administration, it
    gives me particular pleasure to welcome him to Korea, along with all the
    people of Korea.
        At this meeting, we were able to reaffirm that the Korea-U.S.
    alliance, based on the common values of democracy and market economy, is
    strong and that it is developing into a comprehensive, dynamic, and
    mutually beneficial alliance. We also agreed that the Korea-U.S.
    alliance will continue to contribute to peace and stability in the
    region. Furthermore, we were able to reaffirm that most of the major
    issues related to our alliance are progressing smoothly and that the
    agreed points are being implemented faithfully.
        For the remaining issues, we agreed that they would be resolved in
    close consultation with each other, to benefit both sides, based on
    mutual respect and the spirit of our alliance. President Bush and I
    agreed to launch a ministerial level strategic dialog to conduct indepth
    consultations on the future direction of our alliance and other far-
    ranging issues.
        With regard to the North Korean nuclear issue, we reiterated that a
    nuclear-armed North Korea will not be tolerated and reaffirmed that the
    issue should be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic means. In order
    to implement the September 19th joint statement of the six-party talks,
    Korea and the U.S. agreed to work closely together. We especially felt
    that the second phase of the fifth round of six-party talks should be
    held as soon as possible in order to find a breakthrough in resolving
    the nuclear issue.
        Furthermore, we had a sincere dialog about building a peace
    structure on the Korean Peninsula. Going beyond the resolution of the
    North Korean nuclear issue, we both felt that a strong peace structure
    must be in place in order not only to reduce tensions but also build
    permanent peace and trust in order to create a new future for the Korean
    Peninsula.
        It gives me particular pleasure to be able to welcome President Bush
    to Gyeongju, the capital city of the Silla dynasty and the city more
    than 1,000 years old. I hope this will be an occasion for him to
    experience firsthand the beauty of Korea's fall weather and our
    beautiful culture. I also hope that Mr. and Mrs. Bush will come to
    better understand the history and culture of Korea. I hope you will have
    a wonderful visit. Thank you.
        President Bush. Mr. President, thank you. Mr. President, thank you
    very much. You do have a beautiful country. And we've got a strong
    relationship. We've got a good

    [[Page 1730]]

    personal relationship, and our countries are bound together by common
    values and our deep desire for freedom and peace. Thank you very much
    for your hospitality. Really been looking forward to my second trip to
    your wonderful country.
        I told the President during our discussions that I felt like the
    ties between our two countries has never been better. In a relationship
    like ours, there's obviously complexities. But the important thing is to
    work together to solve those complexities in a spirit of friendship. And
    secondly, I know how important our relationship is to help promote
    stability in this part of the world.
        Yesterday I gave a speech in Kyoto where I, with all sincerity,
    praised the great progress of your country, Mr. President. You have
    shown how economic prosperity and political freedom go hand in hand for
    the good of the people. And as we helicoptered in from Busan today, it's
    very clear that the economic prosperity of this part of the world is
    very strong, and so is the political freedom.
        We did have a wide-ranging discussion. We talked, of course, about
    the North Korean issue. We talked about the need to make sure that we
    continue to strategize through this--five of us who are working with
    North Korea to get North Korea to implement that which it said it would
    do, which is to verifiably get rid of its nuclear weapons and programs.
    It's in the world's interest that this happen. It's also in our interest
    that we continue to work together to solve the problem.
        I see a peninsula one day that is united and at peace. And that's a
    vision, Mr. President, that I know you share as well. And that's a--it's
    the right vision. There's a real possibility that by working together,
    at some point in time, the peninsula will be united and at peace. And I
    want to appreciate that vision of yours, sir.
        We also talked about our bilateral relations. Well, let me--first, I
    want to thank the President and the people of this wonderful country for
    sending more than 3,000 troops to Iraq to help that democracy flourish.
    And it's a--to me, it's not only a gesture of friendship, but it's a
    gesture of understanding that a democracy in the heart of the Middle
    East will help bring peace to others. And I thank you for your
    leadership, Mr. President, not only in--on the troops but as well as
    providing assistance to both Iraq and Afghanistan. We're bound by our
    love of freedom. And those commitments by your government indicate how
    close we are in terms of promoting the values of freedom and democracy.
        I also want to thank you very much for your help for the victims of
    Hurricane Katrina. That meant a lot to our people. It was very generous
    of you, Mr. President, to do just that.
        We talked about our working together on--make sure that the world is
    a world that trades freely and fairly, that--appreciate the President's
    leadership at the upcoming APEC summit, where I'm hopeful that all of us
    will join together in promoting a successful Doha round at the WTO with
    the understanding it's in our nations' interests that we have free and
    fair trade, but it's in the interests of developing nations that there
    be free and fair trade. The World Bank estimated that hundreds of
    millions of people will be lifted out of poverty if this round goes
    forward. And I know you share the same concern I share about poverty in
    the world, Mr. President.
        At some point in time, I look forward to continuing our bilateral
    trade relations. At the appropriate time, our governments will come
    together and discuss how to further trade for the benefit of both
    countries.
        Finally, Mr. President, I look forward to continuing to work with
    you to promote a foundation for peace and freedom, whether it be here on
    the peninsula or around this globe. And I know I've got a good partner
    in peace and freedom when I have discussions with you. So thanks for
    your hospitality. Really gracious of you to have--make time for a
    bilateral meeting

    [[Page 1731]]

    in the midst of all your planning for the APEC summit. And Laura and I are just thrilled to be here. Thank you.
        President Roh. Next we will have a question-and-answer session. We
    will take four questions in all.

    Inter-Korean Summit Meeting/South Korea-U.S. Relations

        Q. First, I have a question to President Roh--actually, I have two
    questions. By holding early inter-Korean summit meeting, some people are
    saying that this would help to resolve the nuclear issue of North Korea.
    With regard to where and how the second Korean summit meeting, the
    government has said that it is not an issue as to where the meeting will
    be held. And I would like to ask your position on that. And second,
    through your summit meeting today, you have said that the Korea-U.S.
    alliance is very strong, indeed. But some people are seeing--since your
    administration took office, we are seeing cracks in the alliance. I
    would like to hear your opinion on this issue as well, please.
        President Roh. Yes, thank you very much for that question. As for a
    second inter-Korean summit meeting, the Korean Government has always
    said that it is open to the possibility of a second inter-Korean summit
    meeting, and we wish to meet again with the leader of North Korea. But
    North Korea will probably have its own strategies. The North Korean
    nuclear issue has to be resolved, and I'm not sure whether North Korea
    thinks that it would be beneficial for them to meet with South Korea
    before or after the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issues. I
    think that this is probably something that North Korea will have to
    judge and decide. This is the status that we are at right now.
        And in this situation, Korea--if we just look at the second inter-
    Korean summit meeting and the holding of that meeting, itself, as
    something that has a very important outcome, I really don't think that
    this will help North Korea's nuclear issue to be resolved. Of course,
    it's important that we meet, but what's more important is the content of
    the meeting, what we can agree upon and what we can resolve through an
    inter-Korean summit meeting. So I don't think that we should hold a
    summit meeting just for the sake of holding a summit meeting. We need to
    very sincerely consult this issue and think it over as to the content of
    the meeting.
        And the second question was about the Korea-U.S. alliance, and I
    know that many people are saying many things about this alliance. I know
    that perspectives can differ according to the angle that they take. I'd
    like to ask you back a question, actually. Since the Korean war, Korea
    and the United States have held various talks, and we are currently in
    the process of handling many, many issues and resolving many issues. And
    I'd like to ask, when was a time where you had more issues solved and
    more issues discussed?
        We're talking about realignment of the U.S. forces in Korea. We're
    talking about strategic flexibility. We're talking about deployment of
    Korean troops to Iraq. We're looking at the relocation of the Yongsan
    Garrison. Many issues are being dealt with now. These are very heavy
    items to be discussing in terms of my politics, and it is sometimes a
    political burden for us to be discussing these issues at one time. But
    we are happy doing this for the past 2 or so years, and most of these
    issues have been resolved very well.
        I'd like to ask you to think about the past administrations and
    think about this administration in comparison with them. We are in very
    smooth and open communication with the United States. And for inter-
    Korean relations as well, this is probably the most stable situation
    between the two Koreas that you have ever seen. And the Korea-U.S.
    dialog is going on very smoothly, and we are reaching very high-level
    agreements as well. And this is an interactive dialog that we are
    having. It's a two-way dialog where we engage in dialog

    [[Page 1732]]

    very seriously and voice all of our opinions and discuss them. And I
    think that this is an area where we are having these open communications
    between Korea and the United States, and we are able to confirm this
    open communication in our meeting as well.
        And the Korea-U.S. alliance is in a very good state, and I do
    believe that it will continue to become even better. And I think that
    our frank discussions between President Bush and myself and also among
    our officials as well will leave foundation for even stronger ties
    between Korea and the United States and the Korea-U.S. alliance to grow
    even further.
        Next we'd like to have a United States journalist ask a question to
    President Bush. Please go ahead with your question.

    War in Iraq/Capitol Hill Politics

        Q. Mr. President, Vice President Cheney called it reprehensible for
    critics to question how you took the country to war, but Senator Hagel
    says it's patriotic to ask those kinds of questions. Who do you think is
    right?
        President Bush. The Vice President.
        Q. Why?
        President Bush. Well, look, ours is a country where people ought to
    be able to disagree, and I expect there to be criticism. But when
    Democrats say that I deliberately misled the Congress and the people,
    that's irresponsible. They looked at the same intelligence I did, and
    they voted--many of them voted to support the decision I made. It's
    irresponsible to use politics. This is serious business making--winning
    this war. But it's irresponsible to do what they've done. So I agree
    with the Vice President.
        Q. [Inaudible]
        President Bush. I think people ought to be allowed to ask questions.
    It is irresponsible to say that I deliberately misled the American
    people when it came to the very same intelligence they looked at and
    came to the--many of them came to the same conclusion I did. Listen, I--
    patriotic as heck to disagree with the President. It doesn't bother me.
    What bothers me is when people are irresponsibly using their positions
    and playing politics, and that's exactly what is taking place in
    America.
        President Roh. We'd like to take another question for President
    Bush, please. Another question for President Bush from a U.S.
    journalist, please.
        President Bush. Your name is not----

    North Korean Nuclear Program/Aid

        Q. Oh, I'm sorry.
        President Bush. You can go ahead and grab the mike if you want to.
    [Laughter] But I didn't know you were called Caren [Caren Bohan,
    Reuters].
        Q. I didn't hear a name.
        President Bush. That's fine.
        Q. Thank you, sir. The North Koreans have said they don't believe
    the agreement they signed in September binds them to give up nuclear
    weapons before they get any assistance.
        President Bush. Before getting assistance--yes.
        Q. Yes. Are you willing to give them assistance first?
        And President Roh, your country gives a lot of assistance to North
    Korea already. Does that put your approach at odds with the approach of
    the U.S.?
        President Bush. The issue really is the light-water reactor. Our
    position is, is that we'll consider the light-water reactor at the
    appropriate time. The appropriate time is after they have verifiably
    given up their nuclear weapons and/or programs.
        President Roh. Next, from KBS. Please ask your question.

    North Korean Human Rights/Six-Party Talks

        Q. I have two questions to President Roh. First, with regard to
    human rights in North Korea, I do understand that the third committee of
    the United Nations will be putting the resolution on the North Korean
    human rights to vote. I would like

    [[Page 1733]]

    to ask about reports that there are differences in opinions between you
    and President Bush with regard to North Korean human rights issues. I'd
    like to ask what was the discussion between you in tonight's--in today's
    meeting. And I'd also like to ask President Roh about our principles on
    voting in the United Nations on this resolution.
        And second, in the last meeting between you and President Bush,
    President Bush mentioned Mr. Kim Chong-il, and it was also--some
    analysts also said that that summit meeting between you and President
    Bush helped the discussions in the six-party talks. This summit meeting
    between you and President Bush is being held in the recess period of the
    fifth six-party talks. I'd like to ask if you think that this summit
    meeting today--do you have any message to the six-party talks and North
    Korea?
        President Roh. I see that the U.S. journalists are just asking one
    question to President Bush, but we're taking two questions from our
    journalists right now.
        With regard to the human rights issue in North Korea--now, human
    rights is a universal value of humankind. It's something that is very
    valuable. And Korea has a very proactive position when it comes to human
    rights issues in the world. But between the two Koreas, we have very
    many important issues that we have to solve politically, and we always
    have to take into consideration the status of the relationship between
    the two Koreas. And that is what I have to say about the North Korean
    nuclear--the North Korean human rights issue.
        And I do believe that during President Lincoln's term in office,
    people were always talking about the slavery, and President Lincoln was
    always attacked about not doing anything for slavery, to release the
    slaves. And I do understand that President Lincoln was quite slow in
    liberating the slaves in the United States. And this was because the
    President, if he took the lead in this issue, he thought that the--
    America would be divided in opinion, and this would be very serious. And
    in reality, the Civil War did take place. And because of this issue of
    slaves, there was a situation where the United States was in jeopardy,
    and because of that, he had to go through a process to ensure that the
    country would stay together. President Lincoln's first priority was
    unity among the States of America, and in this large framework of unity,
    he pursued his policy to free the slaves in the United States. As a
    result, before the end of the Civil War in the United States, I do
    understand that President Lincoln was able to free all the slaves in
    America, and they were actually--and many people went into the army,
    many of the slaves, former slaves went into the army and fought for
    President Lincoln.
        And this evaluation of President Lincoln's policies was carried out
    actually 11 years after President Lincoln's death by a scholar who was
    looking into the situation of the slaves in the United States. I think
    that this is quite similar to the position that we are taking when it
    comes to North Korean human rights issues.
        And your second question--what was it again, please, after human
    rights?
        Q. [Inaudible]
        President Roh. As for the North Korean nuclear issue, President Bush
    and I engaged in a lengthy discussion on that issue. And the contents of
    the discussion were basically that we agreed on the fundamental
    principles when it came to the North Korean nuclear issue. And in the
    process of the six-party talks, how North Korea would act, the tactics
    of North Korea when it came to the details, we had some ideas to
    exchange, and because of that, the discussion of the North Korean
    nuclear issue was quite lengthy.
        But I must say that we do not have any differing opinions on this.
    We are basically looking to resolve this North Korean nuclear issue, and
    we are exploring for ways that we can resolve this issue. We have no
    disagreement at all that this issue must

    [[Page 1734]]

    be resolved. And in understanding the attitude of North Korea, I do
    believe that we were able to share a recognition on North Korea's
    attitude in this whole process.
        And with regard to this issue, the authorities of both sides, Korea
    and the United States, must work closely in cooperation and consult with
    each other. And we agreed that we need to have--share an agreement if we
    want the whole process to succeed. And overall, this North Korean
    nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully within the framework of the
    six-party talks. And we were quite optimistic that it would be able to
    be resolved in the framework of the six-party talks.
        If I just add one more point, the six-party talks, yes, definitely
    it is a difficult task to accomplish. But the United States, when it
    looks at Northeast Asia, the Korean Peninsula, the North Korean nuclear
    issue, it has many policies. But I do believe that these policies are
    some of the United States most successful policies, indeed.
        And here in Korea as well, the inter-Korean relations are very
    stable indeed. And in the process of resolving this North Korean nuclear
    issue, once again I do believe that we are in close cooperation with the
    United States, and we have this framework of the six-party talks. And
    this is a framework that includes all the members of the Northeast Asian
    community, and we are responding to the North Korean nuclear issue
    together. So I think that we are holding dialog on a very stable
    foundation.
        Of course, North Korea is not someone that we can very easily engage
    in discussion and dialog with. North Korea probably has its own very
    complex attitudes and positions, but this has always been the case with
    North Korea. And in our process of engaging in dialog with North Korea,
    I think that we have the most strategic and solid foundation of dialog
    that we have ever had. Therefore, once again, when it comes to the
    United States Northeast Asia policies, I think that they are in a very
    good direction indeed. And that was what I did mention during our talks.
    And when I first met with President Bush, I asked him to also listen to
    opinions that things were going well in Northeast Asia, that things
    would go well in Northeast Asia as well.
        Thank you very much. And this concludes today's joint press
    conference.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 12:15 p.m. at the Hotel
    Hyundai. President Roh referred to Chairman Kim Chong-il of North Korea.
    President Roh and some reporters spoke in Korean, and their remarks were
    translated by an interpreter.