Lee enlists support for 'Grand Bargain'

Lee enlists support for 'Grand Bargain'

HUA HIN, Thailand - President Lee Myung-bak yesterday explained the core aspects of the "Grand Bargain" deal he plans to offer North Korea in return for denuclearization and also once again urged Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear arms programs.

"The president explained his ideas for ending North Korea's nuclear weapons for good and also called on North Korea to denuclearize and return to the six-nation talks," said Kim Eun-hye, spokeswoman for Cheong Wa Dae.

Lee, during a business luncheon for the East Asia Summit, said the whole idea of the grand bargain is to get North Korea to agree on a deal that would be irreversible.

He pointed out that past denuclearization deals have been "partial" and based on incremental steps which allowed Pyongyang to renege on promises again and again, after which the deal would be dragged back to the initial phase.

Lee said his grand bargain would consist of security guarantees and economic support in return for denuclearizing North Korea in a single step.

The president yesterday also took part in the East Asia Summit, itself which involved the 10 ASEAN members and China and Japan, as well as Australia, New Zealand and India. South Korea is also a member.

Lee called on leaders of the summit to form an "Asian platform" for advertising and implementing the main agreements reached during G20 meetings as six of the member states belong to the Group of 20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors.

"The leaders (of the summit) agreed to further strengthen their cooperation for the successful meeting of the G20 economic summit to be hosted by South Korea next year," Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.

South Korea is to host the fifth G20 summit next November.

During a separate meeting with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the South Korean president sought Australia's support for his grand bargain proposal. Rudd, in return, expressed his support and called for North Korea to immediately re-engage in the six-party talks aimed at its denuclearization.

The talks have been suspended since late last year and in April, the North said it would "permanently" boycott the dialogue after the United Nations Security Council condemned its rocket launch.

Pyongyang has recently, however, hinted it is ready to resume the six-way dialogue.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il said the talks may happen, depending on the results of bilateral discussions with the United States.

In Seoul, there is talk of a possible inter-Korean summit.

(jjhwang@heraldm.com)

By Hwang Jang-jin

2009.10.26