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The close relationship between the United States and the Republic of Korea dates back to 1952 with the signing
of the Korea-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty. While Korea has been a beneficiary, the pact has been
advantageous to the U.S. as well. Korea provided military forces to support the U.S. in the
Vietnam War and the first Gulf War. And President Roh pledged 700 non-combatant troops to help
in the rebuilding of Iraq. "Our government’s decision to send Korean troops to Iraq is a tangible
demonstration that our commitment to the alliance matches words with deeds," says Deputy Prime
Minister Jin-Pyo Kim.
The President believes the North Korean nuclear issue should be solved in a peaceful manner,
based on dialogue between the parties involved. North Korea seems to have gradually been pursuing
economic reform and open-door policies.
The government will continue its efforts to resolve the North Korean issue peacefully through
a variety of channels, all of which will be pursued on the basis of a solid U.S.-Korea alliance. The
President will visit the U.S. this month to discuss the matter with President Bush.
President Roh said, "What is important to me in this matter is a continued conciliatory and
cooperative effort and the establishment of a peace structure on the Korean peninsula…and on the
basis of that, the construction of a cooperative economic system in Northeast Asia. We should resolve
the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue and I firmly believe that the issue will be solved in
that manner."
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