South Korea & Pakistan Agree On Nuke Row

South Korea & Pakistan Agree On Nuke Row

South Korea and Pakistan on Thursday (Nov. 6) agreed to closely cooperate in international affairs and expand bilateral trade and investment relations.

President Roh Moo-hyun and visiting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf also agreed to make joint efforts to resolve the security concern on the Korean peninsula due to the standoff over North Korea's nuclear weapons program during a summit meeting at Chong Wa Dae.

The heads of state signed an agreement for promotion of the information-technology industry and energy and mineral development.

The agreement stipulates both sides will work together to jointly promote development and collaboration in several areas of the IT sector, including broadband Internet, e-government, wireless Internet and mobile communications. The two nations also agreed to exchange high-tech professionals.

``Prompted by the agreement, an increasing number of Korean companies in the IT field are expected to expand their investments into the Pakistani market,'' Ra Bong-ha, a senior official at the Information and Communication Ministry, said.

Roh explained to Musharraf the government's efforts to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis and asked Pakistan to continue to support Seoul's policy of peaceful diplomacy with Pyongyang.

The two leaders said they were satisfied with the steady growth in bilateral economic cooperation since diplomatic normalization between the countries started in 1983, presidential spokesman Yoon Tai-young said.

They noted the growth in personnel exchanges, especially of the Pakistani workforce at South Korea's industrial sites, he said.

Musharraf arrived in Seoul on Wednesday and will meet National Assembly Speaker Park Kwan-yong and heads of the nation's major economic organizations to discuss issues of mutual concern.

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