U.S. envoys to tout missile shield to Asia

Bush talks to Kim Dae-jung over missile defense

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By staff and wire reports

TOKYO, Japan -- The U.S. will send two high-ranking diplomats to Asia next week to brief its allies on plans to build a global missile defense system.

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz will embark on a week-long tour of Asia, starting Monday, on a mission to sell the missile defense system.

U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday outlined the concept of a missile defense system operated and maintained with the co-operation of U.S. allies around the world.

He also called for replacing the 30-year-old Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty with Russia to allow the deployment of the missile defense system, which is strongly opposed by Moscow and Beijing, and a reduction of the U.S. nuclear weapon stockpile.

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The visit by Armitage and Wolfowitz, as well as other key diplomats, will cover Japan, South Korea, India, Singapore and Australia.

The United States is seeking support for its controversial missile shield, which drew praise from some nations and criticism from others on Wednesday. Seoul said in March it would maintain a neutral position.

U.S. seeks support

Bush is said to have called South Korean president Kim Dae-jung for about 15 minutes on Wednesday morning.

During the call, Bush reportedly confirmed he would visit South Korea in October and discussed the U.S. plan for a missile shield with Kim, said South Korean presidential spokesman Park Joon-young.

Kim said he hoped U.S. efforts to negotiate with other countries, including its allies on the National Missile Defense (NMD) would contribute to international peace and stability.

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Japan confirmed Armitage and Kelly would together visit Tokyo and Seoul from May 7 to May 10.

James Kelly, Assistant Secretary of State for Pacific Affairs, will then spend two days in Australia and make a brief visit to Singapore, then return to Washington. Armitage will visit India on May 11 before heading home.

North Korea a threat

The United States says it needs a missile shield because of a growing threat from rogue states such as North Korea.

Bush said today's threats come from "a small number of missiles" in the hands of rogue states "for whom terror and blackmail are a way of life."

"In such a world, Cold War deterrence is no longer enough to maintain peace, to protect our own citizens and or own allies and friends," he said.

Kim also told Bush he hoped Washington and Pyongyang would resume talks soon, after a U.S. review of policies towards North Korea is finished, Park said.

A tougher U.S. policy towards North Korea, adopted by the Bush administration, has been viewed as undercutting efforts by South Korea Kim to advance dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in the wake of their historic summit last June.

South Korea's Kim stressed the importance of improving both North Korea-U.S. and South Korea-U.S. relations.

The United States has some 37,000 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War. That conflict ended in an armed truce instead of a peace agreement that has since left the two Koreas in a state of war.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Korea Government
The White House
National Missile Defense Program

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