Asia-Pacific

ROK will invite Kim to summit if conditions met

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-10 11:16

BERLIN - President Lee Myung-bak said on Monday that Kim Jong-il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), would be invited to a nuclear security summit in Seoul next year if Pyongyang gave up its nuclear weapon program.

After meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Lee told reporters that if Pyongyang said beforehand that "it will renounce nuclear weapons,"  Seoul would be prepared to invite Kim to Seoul for the nuclear security summit slated for March 26, 2012.

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The first nuclear security summit was held in Washington in April last year with a view to enhancing international cooperation to prevent nuclear smuggling and terrorism.

Lee said the Seoul summit "would be a good chance" for the DPRK to  "join the international community."

Last month, Kim said in a personal message to former US President Jimmy Carter that he is willing to negotiate any issue with Seoul and members of the stalled nuclear disarmament talks without precondition, according to Carter, who visited Pyongyang on a private mission.

Kim also said he is prepared for a summit meeting directly with Lee at any time to discuss any subject, Carter said.

Germany was the first leg of Lee's week-long European tour, which will also take him to Denmark and France.