ROK president says ready to host DPRK leader

Xinhua, May 10, 2011

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said in Berlin 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 the DPRK gave up its nuclear weapon program.

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

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 U.S. President Jimmy Carter that he is willing to negotiate any issue with South Korea 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 South Korean President 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.