hankyoreh

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said Tuesday that a Korean Peninsula peace treaty to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War will be the most important agenda at his summit talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il slated for Oct.

2-4 in Pyongyang.

In an unscheduled meeting with local media reporters, Roh said he won't raise the issue of North Korean denuclearization seriously at the upcoming inter-Korean summit, noting the nuclear issue has already been in the process of rapid settlement at the six-party talks which also involve the U.S., China, Japan and Russia.

"The declaration of the end of the Korean War and peace treaty are the core agenda items of the inter-Korean summit talks," Roh said at the press meeting at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

"Many people emphasize the importance of the North Korean denuclearization. Objectively speaking, the nuclear problem is in the midst of being resolved at the six-party talks. More important is the next stage, or the establishment of peace," said the president.

Roh said he will additionally discuss with Kim how to accelerate practical economic cooperation between two Koreas.
SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Yonhap)