By Ryu Jin
Staff Reporter


South Korea will seek a stronger alliance with the United States now that President George W. Bush has won a second four-year term, officials here said Thursday. President Roh Moo-hyun sent a message to congratulate him on his re-election.

The South Korean government began an overall examination of possible changes in U.S. foreign policy directed toward the Korean peninsula, convening a National Security Council (NSC) session to develop proper measures.

In the NSC meeting held at Chong Wa Dae in the afternoon, senior government officials considered possible changes in the U.S.’ foreign policy and security lineup, as well as ways of further strengthening the alliance with Washington, sources said.

``The meeting largely focused on how a reborn Bush administration would deal with North Korea,’’ an NSC official said. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young presided over the meeting, which was attended by the ministers of foreign affairs, security and national defense.

Experts say it is hard to predict whether Bush’s hawkish crusade in Iraq and North Korea will intensify or slacken until his security team has been appointed, as this concerns the future of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and the possible replacement of Secretary of State Collin Powell.

``We discussed the possibility of Secretary Powell retiring in the second Bush administration, which we fear would result in a more aggressive attitude toward North Korea’’ the official said. requesting anonymity.

While attending a National Assembly session earlier in the morning, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki-moon told lawmakers that he believed there would be ``no big changes in Seoul-Washington relations’’ with Bush’s re-election.

``Relations between South Korea and the U.S. will become more stable in the fields of security and the economy,’’ he said.

On the stalled six-party talks aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis, Ban also stressed that Seoul would persuade Pyongyang to take a strategic step to resolve the longstanding standoff.

After waiting for the results of the U.S. poll until dawn, Roh sent a congratulatory message to Bush immediately after the U.S. president made a speech to officially announce victory.

``President Roh hoped the two countries will be able to join forces to achieve peace and prosperity for people all around the world, as well as peace and stability on the Korean peninsula,’’ Chong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Jong-min said.

The presidential office also issued a statement to welcome Bush’s re-election. ``We wholeheartedly welcome the re-election of incumbent President Bush in Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election,’’ it said, attributing his re-election to his strong leadership over the past four years.

``We hope that during its second term, the Bush administration will continue to cooperate with its allies to secure peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula and in the world,’’ it added.

In the statement, the presidential spokesperson pledged the Roh administration would continue its close cooperation with the Bush government for resolving the North Korean nuclear arms issue peacefully and securing prosperity in Northeast Asia.

``The re-election of U.S. President Bush will serve as an occasion for the two countries to deepen their comprehensive and dynamic partnership,’’ he said.

jinryu@koreatimes.co.kr