• ARIRANG NEWS 00:00
• President Park Geun-hye says reunification of the Korean peninsula will further strengthen Korea-U.S. alliance.
This comes before the announcement of a joint declaration against Pyongyang's nuclear threats.
President Park also hinted that a Korea-Japan summit could take place on the sidelines of trilateral talks between Korea, Japan and China.
The focal point of discussions will be Japan's wartime sex crimes.
After another rejection from the U.S. on transfering technologies crucial to Korea's fighter jet project, Seoul may focus on developing the technologies at home.
Good to have you with us at this hour.
I'm Daniel Choy.
S. Korea, U.S. to adopt first joint statement against N. Korea's nuclear weapons program
In just a few hours, President Park Geun-hye and President Barack Obama will hold their fourth summit in Washington.
Our Hwang Sung-hee, who is travelling with the president, takes a closer look at the possible agenda items at the summit.
Dealing with North Korea's nuclear ambitions will top the agenda at Friday's summit between President Park and President Obama.
The presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday the two leaders will adopt a joint statement on North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
It will mark the first time Seoul and Washington release a statement solely on Pyongyang and is meant to show the two leaders' determination about the issue.
The statement is expected to contain countermeasures against North Korean provocations, such as a fourth nuclear test, as well as ways to resume the long-stalled 6-party nuclear talks.
On the economic front, the two allies may discuss South Korea's possible joining of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Throughout her trip, President Park has expressed Seoul's willingness to join the 12-nation multilateral trade pact that includes Washington and Tokyo.
Another agenda item will be expanding cooperation on global issues, such as climate change, cybersecurity and violent extremism.
The U.S. has shown great interest in these so-called "New Frontier" areas and the two allies are expected to lay out detailed measures for bilateral cooperation.
"With the summit and a joint press conference with President Obama, President Park will wrap up her four-day stay here in Washington and depart for Korea later this Friday.
Hwang Sung-hee, Arirang News, Washington."
Pres. Park hints at possible summit talks with Abe
President Park hinted at the possibility of a summit with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe... on the sidelines of trilateral talks between Korea, Japan and China set for later this month or early next month.
The key agenda will be Japan's acknowledgement of its wartime sex crimes.
Song Ji-sun tells us more.
Speaking at a Q-and-A session following her speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies forum..., President Park Geun-hye said she hopes the upcoming trilateral summit with Japan and China will serve as an opportunity to mend Seoul-Tokyo relations.
On the sidelines of that summit, slated for sometime in late October or early November, President Park said she is willing to sit down with Abe... saying it would be meaningful if progress is made on the issue of Japan's sexual enslavement of Korean women before and during World War II.
"I hope that this trilateral summit will provide an opportunity for Korea and Japan to clear away obstacles hindering closer bilateral ties and thus hold sincere discussions on the way forward toward a common future."
The two leaders have yet to hold a summit... as bilateral relations remain at a historic low due to Japan's denial of its wartime atrocities.
In response to President Park's latest remarks... Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the two sides should discuss the matter on multiple levels - hinting a slight change in Tokyo's stance towards the issue.
Kyodo News also reported that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was quoted as saying Tokyo WILL hold bilateral summits with Seoul and Beijing on the sidelines of the trilateral talks... which will take place for the first time in three and a half years.
Song Ji-sun, Arirang News.
U.S. refuses S. Korea's request for transfer of fighter-jet technology
Washington told Seoul it is difficult to permit the transfer of four core technologies crucial to Korea's indigenous fighter jet development project.
Despite the setback,... the South Korean military says there are other ways to develop the necessary technology.
For details we turn to Kim Hyun-bin.
Korea's Defense Minister Han Min-koo held talks with his U.S. counterpart Ashton Carter at the Pentagon on Thursday local time… and asked him to reconsider Seoul's request of four key technology transfers.
Carter said it will be difficult to grant Seoul's request but that the two countries can explore ways to increase technological cooperation.
