Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� July, 2002

Prime Minister Meets with President of the Republic of Korea Monday, July 1, 2002 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi met with President Kim Dae-jung of the Republic of Korea (ROK) at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, in light of the success of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, the two leaders agreed to continue various forms of exchange such as the promotion of sports and youth exchanges and a detailed examination of a free trade agreement between Japan and the ROK, and announced the "Joint Message Toward the Future by Prime Minister Koizumi and President Kim Dae-jung." Furthermore, in regard to the June 29 incident involving an exchange of fire between ROK and North Korean forces on the Yellow Sea, the two leaders shared the recognition that the incident should be handled in a calm manner so as to not heighten tension on the Korean Peninsula. Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his intention to continue to offer full support for President Kim Dae-jung's "Sunshine Policy."