Albright briefs Kim on N.K. visit

President Kim Dae-Jung received an hour-long briefing from U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on the outcome of her visit to North Korea at Chong Wa Dae Wednesday.

Albright headed for the presidential office to meet Kim immediately after her arrival in Seoul from Pyongyang.

President Kim and Secretary Albright held an exclusive meeting for about 30 minutes with only Foreign Affairs-Trade Minister Lee Joung-Binn and U.S. Ambassador to Korea Stephen Bosworth in attendance, leading to heated speculation on their topics of discussion.

But presidential spokesman Park Joon-Young, citing diplomatic practices, did not elaborate on the talks.

Albright told Kim that she discussed history, regional problems and pending questions for a considerable time with North Korea¡¯s leader, Chairman Kim Jong-Il (of the National Defense Commission), according to the spokesman.

As for the North Korean leader, Albright described him as a very courteous man willing to listen and well versed in international and regional affairs, the spokesman added.

She also said, according to Park, that Chairman Kim spoke of President Kim very favorably and was well informed about the President¡¯s life.

In particular, she said that Chairman Kim told her President Kim became President only after living a turbulent life as an opposition leader, which included his being suppressed, sentenced to death and exiled abroad. The North Korean leader told his U.S. guest that President Kim¡¯s life should be made into a movie, the spokesman said.

Albright also expressed her gratitude to President Kim, noting that what the President told her after his meeting with the North Korean leader was very helpful to her talks with Chairman Kim.

The President in turn congratulated Albright on the remarkable progress in relations between North Korea and the United States, saying he expects more achievements in the future, spokesman Park said.