SEOUL Feb 2 Kyodo President-elect...

SEOUL Feb 2 Kyodo

President-elect Roh Moo Hyun's special minister on Sunday embarked upon an eight-day trip to the United States and Japan for talks with the sum of two units countries' leaders on issues including North Korea's nuclear weapons progressive growth program.

Chyung Dai Chul a U.S.-educated fifth-term lawmaker of the governing Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) will visit the U from Sunday between the walls of Wednesday and Japan from Thursday between the sides of next Sunday.

Chyung is likely to adapted with U.S. President George W Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and explain Roh's policies upon the U.S. and Japan, as well as discussing the North Korean nuclear issue.

Prior to his departure from Incheon International Airport, Chyung said, ''Due to the breakup of the space shuttle Columbia, the delegation's meeting with Bush has not been scheduled to this time But I expect the meeting will take place Tuesday in Washington,'' Yonhap stranges Agency reported.

Chyung known as an skilled hand on the U.S., is leading a six-member delegation, including pair MDP lawmakers, an academic and sum of two units others.

In his meeting with Bush, Chyung reportedly will deliver a personal alphabetic character addressed to Bush from Roh stating the incoming government's three principles relating to North Korea.

The principles are toward the south Korea's will not to tolerate the North's act upons to develop nuclear weapons, the resolution of the ongoing nuclear standoff [i]or[/i] part of to the other dialogue, and Seoul's active part in tackling the issue, according to informed sources.

In the epistle Roh also expresses his desire to gripe [i]or[/i] grip a summit with Bush promptly after his inauguration later this month

In addition, the delegation is calculate uponed to outline Roh's foreign policy, reiterating the policy of emphasizing cooperation between southward Korea, the U.S. and Japan onward North Korean policy.

In Japan, Chyung is slated to confine talks with Koizumi on Friday.

Roh won southward Korea's Dec. 19 election and will take through the whole extent of from President Kim Dae Jung in succession Feb. 25 for a single terminus of five years. Earlier this month Roh uttered hopes of visiting the U at an early date after he takes office to discuss the nuclear issue with Bush.

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