London - US President Barack Obama praised South Korean friendship Thursday, at what officials called a "warm meeting" with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. "Korea is one of America's closest allies and greatest friends," Obama said at the meeting, shortly before the start of a Group of 20 (G20) summit of the world's most advanced and emerging economies in London.
The South Korean president also accepted an invitation by his American counterpart to visit Washington on June 16.
The talks between Obama and Lee came a day after North Korea's military warned Japan that they would "mercilessly deal deadly blows" to its neighbour, if Japan were to shoot down a rocket that Pyongyang plans to launch in coming days.
The army would strike not only Japan's missile interceptors but also "major targets," the North Korean military said in a statement.
At his first meeting with Lee since taking office, Obama said the expected missile launch would violate UN resolutions, and that "the US and South Korea would consult closely about how to respond firmly at the UN," senior US administration officials said.
Obama said North Korea would not be able to drive a wedge between the US and South Korea, the officials said, adding that the US president expressed "admiration for President Lee's calm resolve and restraint and steadfastness," in the face of personal abuse from North Korea.
The two leaders also discussed the languishing Korea-US free trade agreement, on which Obama expressed his desire to make progress although he "understood there were difficulties on both sides," according to the US government aides.
Obama addressed South Korea's role in Afghanistan and Pakistan, showing "appreciation for the assistance that South Korea has provided and is intending to provide to both countries," according to the officials present in the meeting.
Against the backdrop of the G20 summit which had brought both leaders to London, Obama expressed "admiration ... for the stimulus package that South Korea has put forward," US aides told a press gathering.
Alongside Thursday's series of G20 working sessions, Obama was also due to hold meetings with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Saudi Arabian leader King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, who represent two of the leading emerging economies attending the summit. Saudi Arabia is also the world's biggest oil exporter.
Leaders at London's G20 summit are expected to sign off on steps aimed at greater global market supervision and closing gaps in the regulatory system in an effort to bolster the global economy, as well as avoiding future crises.
