U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed Wednesday (May 26) upon her meeting with the President in Seoul that the U.S. government will continue to give its full support to the Korean government regarding the incident of the Cheonan ship.

The secretary added that the President had showed prudent yet strong leadership through his earlier special address. The President on Monday stressed South Korea’s right of self defense in response to any armed provocation from the North from now on and called on the North Korean authorities to make a formal apology for the sinking of the South Korean naval ship that went down due to a surprise torpedo attack on March 26.
 

“Korea is grateful for the prompt and active support from the United States since the Cheonan Ship incident,” said the President in response. He also expressed thanks for Secretary Clinton’s earlier attendance at the commemoration ceremony for the Korean War that took place in Washington, D.C. in April. The President himself was on a state visit to the U.S. capital at the time.

The U.S. Secretary said she had come to show “clear and unmistakable” support to the President and his administration and that U.S. President Barack Obama personally has respect for the President’s leadership, being a host to global gatherings like this year’s G‐20 Financial Summit and the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit.

The President, after briefing Clinton on his phone conversation with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, said the true importance lies in the North’s showing sincerity in giving up its nuclear program rather than whether Pyongyang will re‐join the six‐party talks. “We need some time to better gauge the situation,” he added.

Secretary Clinton agreed, saying that “strategic patience” is in order. She said she backs up the President’s manner of dealing with the North, not only for short term goals but for long term goals as well, as he bears in mind the changing trends on the Korean Peninsula.

The meeting went on for 50 minutes from 1:50 to 2:40 p.m. and was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung‐hwan, Chief Security Policy Advisor Kim Byung‐kook, top public relations aide Lee Dong‐gwan and other officials from the Korean side; and U.S. Ambassador to Korea Kathleen Stephens, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell, White House NSC director for East Asia Jeffrey Bader and other officials from the U.S. side.

Secretary Clinton arrived in Korea at 11:40 a.m. the same day, and also met with Foreign Affairs Minister Yu for ministerial talks. After paying a courtesy visit to the President and giving a joint press conference she left for Washington later in the day at 4 p.m.