From the Rantburg Diplomacy Desk:
South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun raised eyebrows Tuesday by saying he and U.S. President George W. Bush had casually discussed a joint visit to an industrial park in the North Korean border city of Kaesong this year. | Yeah, me 'n' George were chatting, y'see..." |
But presidential spokesman Kim Jong Min later Tuesday downplayed Roh's remarks to Cabinet ministers and vice minister-level officials to mark the New Year at the presidential office, saying they should not be interpreted as an agreement between the two leaders. | "It was more like, y'know, a recipe swap. Did you know that Laura pickles her own kimchee?" |
"We are not officially pursuing a visit to Kaesong by the leaders," the spokesman was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency. | "Why me, lord, why me?" he added as he took a big swig of soju and buried his head in his hands. |
Roh reportedly said that when he met briefly with Bush in a corridor at last November's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Santiago, he asked Bush to visit Kaesong with him when the U.S. president visits South Korea this coming November for another APEC summit. "President Bush replied that he will do so along with me if I go there," the South Korean president was quoted as saying. |