Roh : “I will Meet With Kim Jong Il If The North Changes Its Attitude”

It was reported on Wednesday that President Roh Moo-hyun stated, “We have every intention of meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il anytime, anywhere, if they show signs of change in dealing with their nuclear problem,”during his meeting with former Indonesia President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who visited South Korea on March 3.

On the same day, a high-ranking Cheong Wa Dae related official said, concerning the report that President Roh has asked former President Megawati, who visited North Korea on Tuesday, to deliver a message saying he has intentions of making a visit to Pyongyang, that “during the meeting, since former President Megawati asked about the situation on the Korean peninsula, President Roh stated his stance of ‘I will meet with leader Kim at anytime, anywhere’ as he answered the question.”

However, the related official added, “President Roh has expressed his opinion. He has not asked to deliver the message to the North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.”

In addition, another Cheong Wa Dae related official said concerning the conversation between President Roh and former President Megawati at that time that “it was only small talk, nothing serious.”

Jung-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com