It Makes a Difference to the Sheep

BUSH AND ROH: WE AGREE BUT NOT REALLY. North Korean nukes are intolerable but Roh still wants a military attack on the North taken off the table and is leery about sanctions and/or embargo. Since Bush refuses to rule out either option, where does that leave the U.S.-and ROK?

Mr. Roh said on Monday that he was coming to Washington "concerned" about the hard-liners in the administration, adding that "many people are concerned that President Bush's `peaceful resolution' principle may change in the future, despite his assurance otherwise."

But tonight, after meeting Mr. Rumsfeld and then Mr. Bush, he told reporters: "When I left Korea, I had both concerns and hopes in my mind. Now, after having talked to President Bush, I have gotten rid of all my concerns."

So, either Bush told Roh in private what he has been unwilling to admit in public (e.g. miliatry action against the North is, indeed, off the table) or Roh is lying about either his concerns or about how Bush assuaged them. Gotta love diplomacy!

FULL TEXT of the official statement of Bush and Roh can be found here (NYT online; free registration required)