[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 47 (Monday, November 27, 2006)]
[Page 2073]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With President Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea 
in Hanoi, Vietnam

November 18, 2006

    President Roh. Today President Bush and I had a very good discussion 
on the North Korean nuclear issue. We agreed on the principle that North 
Korea should dismantle its nuclear weapons and its nuclear program, that 
our two countries fully support the U.N. Security Council Resolution 
1718, and our two countries will implement this resolution in a faithful 
manner.
    Although the Republic of Korea is not taking part in the full scope 
of the PSI, we support the principles and goals of the PSI and will 
fully cooperate in preventing WMD materiel transfer in the Northeast 
Asia region. And we also agreed that we will actively seek to resolve 
the North Korean nuclear issue within the six-party talks framework and 
also by actively engaging in bilateral talks within this framework.
    In conclusion, the President and I had very satisfactory discussions 
on this issue, and we had very useful and indepth discussions on 
resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.
    President Bush. Mr. President, I agree. We had a discussion like you 
would expect allies to have a discussion. We are allies in peace. We are 
allies in working to improve the lives of our fellow citizens.
    We did discuss 1718, Resolution 1718, and our mutual desire to 
effectively enforce the will of the world. I appreciate the cooperation 
we're receiving from South Korea on the Proliferation Security 
Initiative. Our desire is to solve the North Korean issue peacefully. 
And as I've made clear in a speech as recently as two days ago in 
Singapore, that we want the North Korean leader to hear that if he gives 
up his weapons and nuclear weapons ambitions, that we would be willing 
to enter into security arrangements with the North Koreans as well as 
move forward new economic incentives for the North Korean people.
    I appreciate your commitment to peace, and I appreciate our mutual 
friendship, Mr. President. And I've enjoyed yet another meeting in our 
quest to achieve our common objectives.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at approximately 8:38 a.m. in the Sheraton 
Hanoi. In his remarks, he referred to Chairman Kim Jong Il of North 
Korea. President Roh spoke in Korean, and his remarks were translated by 
an interpreter.