The President and First  Lady Kim Yoon-ok wave hands before leaving for the United States on June 15 at a Seoul airport. (Photo: Yonhap News)

During Tuesday''s talks in Washington, which will be President Lee''s first extensive meeting with President Obama following their brief one-on-one at the G-20 summit in London in April, the North Korean nuclear issue will top the agenda, as Lee''s trip comes after that nation conducted its second nuclear test on May 25, and the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution last Friday calling for tougher sanctions.

Since the resolution was adopted, the North has vowed to proceed with a uranium enrichment program and to build more nuclear bombs.

Lee and Obama are expected to agree on a stronger security alliance against North Korea''s nuclear threat and discuss ways to closely cooperate to achieve the complete and verifiable denuclearization of North Korea.

The two leaders are likely to discuss ways to effectively deter North Korea from proliferating its nuclear technology and ballistic missiles to other countries.

The Presidential Office of Cheong Wa Dae here said that the two leaders will also work to secure Washington''s written promise to provide extended nuclear deterrence for Seoul.

Lee and Obama are also expected to sign a document called a "joint vision for the Korea-U.S. alliance," which will discuss steps for developing what has been mainly a military alliance into a comprehensive relationship spanning social, cultural, political and economic issues.

On the economic front, the two leaders are set to discuss the pending ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement and other issues of mutual concern.

The summit talks between Lee and Obama will be followed by a joint press conference and a state luncheon.

During his visit, the South Korean President will meet with a number of ranking U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

On June 17, President Lee is to receive an honorary doctorate from George Washington University and deliver an address, before heading back home on June 18.

By Han Aran
Korea.net Staff Writer