[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 20 (Monday, May 19, 2003)]
[Pages 604-606]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Joint Statement Between the United States of America and the Republic of 
Korea: Common Values, Principles, and Strategy

May 14, 2003

    On May 14, 2003, President George W. Bush of the United States of 
America and President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea held a 
summit meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C. Noting that 2003 
marks the fiftieth anniversary of the U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, 
the two leaders pledged to work together to promote the values of 
democracy, human rights and market economy shared by the people of both 
nations and to build a comprehensive and dynamic alliance relationship 
for continued peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in 
Northeast Asia.

The U.S.-ROK Alliance

    President Bush and President Roh welcomed the fiftieth anniversary 
of the U.S.-ROK alliance and paid tribute to those who have contributed 
to the alliance, particularly the Korean host communities and the 
members of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) who have devoted themselves to the 
defense of peace and freedom on the peninsula. President Bush reaffirmed 
the U.S. commitment to a robust forward presence on the peninsula and in 
the Asia-Pacific region. The two leaders pledged to work closely 
together to modernize the U.S.-ROK alliance, taking advantage of 
technology to transform both nations' forces and enhance their 
capabilities to meet emerging threats.
    In the context of modernizing the alliance, the two leaders agreed 
to work out plans to consolidate U.S. forces around key hubs and to 
relocate the Yongsan garrison at an early date. President Bush pledged 
to consult closely with President Roh on the appropriate posture for 
USFK during the transition to a more capable and sustainable U.S. 
military presence on the peninsula. They shared the view that the 
relocation of U.S. bases north of the Han River should be pursued, 
taking careful account of the political, economic and security situation 
on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia. The two leaders also noted the 
opportunity provided by the Republic of Korea's growing national 
strength to continue expanding the role of the ROK armed forces in 
defending the Korean Peninsula.
    President Bush and President Roh welcomed the growing bilateral 
U.S.-ROK cooperation on international security challenges beyond the 
Korean Peninsula. President Bush thanked President Roh for his support 
on Iraq and welcomed the Republic of Korea's decision to deploy medical 
and construction units and undertake other efforts to assist with post-
conflict humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in Iraq. President 
Roh expressed his support for U.S. and international efforts to 
establish lasting peace and security in the Middle East. The two leaders 
also reviewed progress and cooperation in the war on terror, noting the 
contribution of ROK forces to Operation Enduring Freedom and Afghan 
reconstruction.
    To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the alliance, the two 
Presidents welcomed the convening of forums of experts to conduct 
discussions on the future of U.S.-ROK relations and to generate fresh 
ideas for both governments.

North Korea

    President Bush and President Roh reaffirmed that they will not 
tolerate nuclear weapons in North Korea. They noted with serious concern 
North Korea's statements about reprocessing, possession of nuclear 
weapons, and its threat to demonstrate or transfer these weapons. They 
stressed that escalatory moves by North Korea will only lead to its 
greater isolation and a more desperate situation in the North.
    Both leaders reiterated their strong commitment to work for the 
complete, verifiable and irreversible elimination of North Korea's 
nuclear weapons program through peaceful means based on international 
cooperation. They welcomed the role played by China at the April 23-25 
trilateral talks in Beijing. They agreed that the Republic of Korea and 
Japan are essential for a successful and comprehensive settlement and 
that Russia and other nations can also play a constructive role in 
multilateral diplomacy. While noting that increased threats to peace and 
stability on the peninsula would require consideration of

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further steps, they expressed confidence that a peaceful resolution can 
be achieved.
    Noting that the United States and the Republic of Korea are the two 
leading donors of humanitarian food assistance to North Korea, the two 
Presidents reaffirmed that humanitarian assistance is provided without 
linkage to political developments and noted the need to ensure that the 
assistance goes to those in need. President Bush stressed that North 
Korea's nuclear programs stand in the way of the bold approach and the 
ability of the international community to consider comprehensive steps 
to assist the many needs of the North Korean people.
    President Roh outlined his Peace and Prosperity Policy and President 
Bush reiterated his support for the process of South-North 
reconciliation. President Bush noted that the Republic of Korea has used 
this dialogue channel to call upon the North to resolve the nuclear 
issue. President Roh stated that future inter-Korean exchanges and 
cooperation will be conducted in light of developments on the North 
Korean nuclear issue. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to 
maintaining close coordination between the U.S. and ROK governments on 
this issue as well as in trilateral consultations with Japan.

Economic Relations

    The two leaders agreed on the importance of working together to 
promote prosperity in their two countries, in the region, and around the 
world. They agreed that Korea's economic fundamentals are strong and 
expressed high confidence in the prospects for continued increases in 
trade, investment and growth in the Republic of Korea. President Bush 
welcomed and supported President Roh's commitment to continued 
structural reform of the Korean economy and his goal of making Korea a 
regional hub for trade, finance, and investment in Northeast Asia. The 
two leaders agreed that progress on open trade, investment, and 
transparency are essential to making this hub concept a reality, and 
recognized the important role of the private sector in this effort.
    The two leaders expressed a desire for enhanced bilateral economic 
cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to resolve bilateral trade 
issues through consultation, and agreed to explore ways to further 
strengthen the already close economic and trade partnership. Recognizing 
the importance of global trade liberalization, the two leaders expressed 
their determination to work together to achieve a successful conclusion 
of the Doha Development Agenda. The two leaders also agreed to 
strengthen cooperation in the APEC forum.

Toward a Full Partnership

    Taking note of the one hundredth anniversary of Korean immigration 
to the United States, President Bush conveyed his deep respect not only 
for the contributions of Korean-Americans to American society but also 
for the ideals of democracy, peace and prosperity realized by the 
citizens of the Republic of Korea. President Roh extended his 
appreciation to the U.S. government and its people for all that has been 
done to help Korean-Americans realize their dreams in American society.
    President Bush and President Roh highlighted the importance of 
increasing bilateral cooperation across a broad range of global issues. 
In this context, the two leaders welcomed U.S. and ROK cooperation in 
the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, in 
the Global Forum on Corruption to be held in Seoul later this month, and 
on other efforts to improve the environment and combat crime and 
infectious diseases around the globe.
    The two leaders agreed that their frequent telephone calls since 
President Roh's election in December and their substantial discussion in 
Washington have built a personal foundation of mutual trust and respect 
that will enhance U.S.-ROK coordination on North Korea and other 
challenges in the months and years ahead. President Roh thanked 
President Bush for his hospitality and invited him to make a return 
visit to Seoul at his convenience. President Bush said he looked forward 
to another visit to the Republic of Korea.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement.

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