President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed on October 13 (Washington time) to increase the scope of the Korea-U.S. alliance. At a summit in the White House in Washington, D.C., the two leaders agreed that the ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) will advance the Korea-U.S. alliance by extending it past current military and security concerns into the economic sector. "The ratification of the Korea-U.S. FTA has opened a new era of the bilateral alliance," President Lee said.
"The ratification will upgrade Korea-U.S. ties by extending the range of the alliance." In regards the North Korean nuclear issue, the two leaders agreed to strengthen response readiness in order to more effectively respond to Pyongyang's increasing threats over the development of nuclear weapons and missiles. Both leaders also urged Pyongyang to stop its ongoing uranium enrichment and nuclear weapons programs immediately since they violate the September 19 United Nations Resolution which the UN Security Council adopted in 2003. They agreed to build a cooperative structure between the two countries to closely work together in order to achieve a fundamental, comprehensive resolution on North Korean nuclear issues. The two leaders further agreed to actively respond to challenges that the international community is facing, such as terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, climate change, the global economic crisis, and poverty. On the same day, President Lee delivered an address at a joint session of the U.S. Congress where he received standing ovations many times. In the speech, President Lee stressed the undividable alliance between Korea and the United States. The president highly praised the nearly 60-year-old alliance for contributing to the mutual development of the two countries.
He urged further strengthening of the bilateral alliance which will lead toward future growth by tackling challenges and international issues together. He also expressed his gratitude for the support of the U.S. Congress which ratified the Korea-U.S. FTA the previous day. In regard to North Korean nuclear issues, President Lee reconfirmed the consistent principles of the South Korean government which urges Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions in order to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
