[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 20 (Monday, May 19, 2003)]
[Pages 603-604]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With President Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea

May 14, 2003

    President Bush. It's my honor to welcome our good friend the 
President of South Korea to Washington, DC, and the Oval Office and now 
the Rose Garden. I've been really looking forward to this visit. We've 
had several phone calls where we've discussed important issues, and now 
we've had a chance to discuss important issues face-to-face.
    I have found the President to be an easy man to talk to. He 
expresses opinions very clearly, and it's easy to understand. One thing 
is for certain: We will work to have the best possible relations between 
our countries, and it's based upon close consultation on a wide variety 
of issues. There's no question in my mind we'll have the kind of 
personal relationship where we can--will consult freely to solve major 
problems.
    We of course discussed the need to have a nuclear-weapons-free 
Korean Peninsula. I assured the President we will continue to work to 
achieve a peaceful solution. We're making good progress toward achieving 
that peaceful resolution of the issue of the Korean Peninsula in regards 
to North Korea.
    We talked about other issues. One important issue is to make sure we 
continue working closely on economic issues. I have confidence in 
regards to the South Korean economy. I believe South Korea will continue 
to be an engine for economic growth and vitality. And I look forward to 
working with the President to continue to foster very strong bilateral 
relations.
    So, Mr. President, I'm glad you're here. Welcome.
    President Roh. When I left Korea, I had both concerns and hopes in 
my mind. Now, after having talked to President Bush, I have gotten rid 
of all my concerns, and now I return to Korea only with hopes in my 
mind.
    In a very short period of time, we have smoothly reached an 
agreement. It was not even necessary to tell President Bush all the 
logic that I had in mind to convince him before I came here. President 
Bush had an accurate idea of what concerned me and what were my hopes. 
And I second to what President Bush has just stated.
    There is one thing that he didn't mention. We have reached agreement 
that the Korea-U.S. alliance have been maintaining its strength over the 
past 50 years, and it will become only more stronger in the coming 50 
years or even more. And I could think of many achievements that we both 
obtained from this meeting, but the most important one of those is the 
fact that President Bush and I had a very frank and candid discussion. 
And apart from our national agenda, we also built a close, personal 
friendship.
    I would like to rephrase myself. We have reached agreements on many 
national agenda issues, but more importantly, we have become to trust 
each other and have confidence in each other.
    I would like to reiterate my heartfelt thanks to President Bush and 
his aides for providing me with this opportunity. Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 6:42 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. President Roh spoke in Korean, and his remarks were translated by 
an interpreter.

[[Page 604]]