US President George W. Bush on Friday called his South Korean counterpart Roh Moo-Hyun to discuss the ongoing war in Iraq and the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the White House said.
"The president spoke to South Korean President Roh early this morning. He called President Roh to thank him for the support from South Korea on Iraq and the decision to dispatch medical engineering units for humanitarian operations in Iraq," spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters.
He said the two leaders reiterated their intention to resolve the DPRK nuclear issue peacefully, pledging to continue their close consultation on the issue.
Relations between the United States and South Korea have been soured over differences on how to deal with Pyongyang, especially the DPRK nuclear issue popping up last October.
In an apparent move to mend relations, President Roh on Wednesday persuaded South Korea's National Assembly to approve his decision to send some 700 non-combatant troops in support of the US-led war in Iraq.
The South Korean president is scheduled to visit Washington in May for his first summit with Bush.
(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2003)
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