President George W. Bush will welcome South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun to Washington next month for talks on a bilateral trade agreement and North Korea's nuclear ambitions, the White House announced Wednesday. At the September 14 meeting, Bush “looks forward to reviewing with President Roh progress in relations since their last bilateral meeting on issues including our free-trade agreement negotiations and the six-party talks” on North Korea's nuclear programs, the White House said in a statement. “The two leaders also will discuss critical regional and global issues, including winning the war on terror, stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and promoting an open international economic order,” the White House wrote. “The alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea is deeply rooted in common values and common interests. Together, the two countries have stood against common threats and worked for the promotion of democracy, free markets, and universal human rights,” the statement said. Roh will be in the United States September 12 to 15, and he will visit San Francisco and Washington, the South Korean president's office said. It will be Roh's third visit to the United States and his sixth meeting with Bush.
