President Bush spent 15 minutes on the phone Wednesday explaining his proposed National Missile Defense program to South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, but Kim was noncommittal on support for the program, a presidential spokesman said.
Kim told Bush he appreciates "that the United States is consulting with its allies on the (missile defense) issue and hopes the plan will be worked out in a way that promotes international peace and stability," said the spokesman, Park Joon-young.
The South Korean government has not taken an official stance on Bush’s missile defense proposal. Some national assemblymen — including members of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party — have expressed strong opposition, fearing the program will trigger an arms race in Northeast Asia.
Bush believes the missile shield is needed to protect the United States and its allies from attack from so-called "rogue nations." U.S. officials have in the past categorized North Korea as a rogue state.
The head of a private, conservative think tank based in Seoul said the South Korean government "must understand that Bush will do whatever he thinks necessary to protect the United States and its people."
Gerald Lee, chairman of the Foundation for National Policy and Cultural Studies, said the South’s Kim "is being noncommittal in the hope of stabilizing relations with North Korea.
"But the South Korean government sooner or later is going to have to take a stand on the issue," he said, noting that the United States is South Korea’s strongest ally and major trading partner.
Kim also told Bush that he hopes the United States will wrap up a review of its policy toward North Korea and that talks between Washington and Pyongyang will resume soon, Park said.
At a news briefing Wednesday, a State Department spokesman said Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage will visit Seoul next week to discuss the missile defense program and North Korean policy review.
A spokesman for the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry in Seoul said Armitage will be accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly.
Bae Gi-chul contributed to this report.