This file photo dated 23 August 2002 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il.(AFP/File/Alexander Nemenov)
Posted on 06/13/2004 7:20:24 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
TOKYO (AFP) -
US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) has rejected a passionate offer from North Korea (news - web sites)'s supreme leader Kim Jong-Il for direct talks between their countries, press reports in Japan said.
The offer was conveyed to Bush by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who met Kim on May 22, during their talks Tuesday on the sidelines of the Group of Eight (G8) summit in the US state of Georgia, the reports said.
"He (Kim) wanted to dance (with Bush) so much as to get thirsty," Koizumi told the US president in a somewhat cryptic expression, the influential daily Asahi Shimbun reported, quoting a source close to the premier.
Bush replied that Washington would not negotiate with Pyongyang bilaterally but it would seek to solve a 20-month standoff over North Korea's nuclear arms development in an existing six-nation forum in Beijing, the report said.
Another major daily, the Mainichi Shimbun, also reported that Koizumi had used the unusual expression to convey Kim's wish for bilateral dialogue.
The paper said though that it was uncertain if Kim had himself used such "vivid" terms when he met with Koizumi.
The Japanese foreign ministry only said Koizumi had told Bush that Kim had a "strong desire" for bilateral talks, the daily said.
The United States claims that North Korea has been pursuing a clandestine uranium-based nuclear programme despite its 1994 pledge to freeze nuclear development. It vows not to reward Pyongyang for a compromise on the standoff.
Koizumi last month held his second summit with Kim in 20 months. The meeting focussed on the abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents in the 1970s, a thorny issue which has stalled talks on the normalisation of relations between the two countries.
This file photo dated 23 August 2002 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il.(AFP/File/Alexander Nemenov)
Engrish?
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (R) shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il following their talks in Pyongyang, May 22, 2004. Kim has agreed that all the relatives of Japanese abducted by Pyongyang's agents decades ago can leave the communist state and go to Japan, reports said after the leaders' summit. (Pool/Reuters)
MAN I thought Kim Jong 11 was dead
DAMN hey Norm that reporting on World Tribune on Kim Jong nice going assassins you didn' get him
This refusal, if true, should make all the critics of the President happy - he opted to not, "go it alone." I'm sure we'll be hearing all the support and agreement this week.
I wouldn't hold my breath.
"He (Kim) wanted to dance (with Bush) so much as to get thirsty," Koizumi told the US president in a somewhat cryptic expression, the influential daily Asahi Shimbun reported, quoting a source close to the premier.Kim is terribly lonely. And Pres. Bush does look awfully good in those jeans. Even when he tumbles from his mountain bike. So very sad.
I hadn't seen him in awhile either,, that train that blew at the railyard almost got him it sounds like..
His "fuse" is lit, either way.. ;-)
Who ya picking in the Olympics in Greece 8-?
I'm sure Jong Il would love to return to those heady Kurintong years,--man they could party, though, couldn't they?--where Kim's "agreement to disarm" would bring him hundreds of millions of US buckerooskies--without any need to follow through.
HF
Hmmmmm.....no surprises there. I do seem to remember hearing something about not negotiating with terrorists before.
I dont care about Olympics give me Pre Season football anytime or NASCAR
I don't care i hope get bad ratings
Report I hear off Sunday UK Telegraph this weekend perhaps it was hit job on Kim Jong 11
Actually I think he go to same place where Oakland Raider owner Al Davis get his jumpsuit well am I RIGHT LOL!
Kim been hanging out at Live Journal site alot lately well you be hanging out too if you were Crazy dictator
"passionate offer"? using the phrase "supreme leader" without sarcasm/irony? Who wrote this, the N.Koreans? 'international ANSWER'?
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