In a November 27th live TV broadcast, "Conversation with the President," South Korea’s President Lee Myung Bak told watchers that the location of any third inter-Korean summit need not be Seoul, indicating that the steps taken by both sides have been greater than anticipated, and that Lee is determined to pursue the issue.

Since the visit by Workers' Party Secretary Kim Ki Nam to South Korea in August, high-level working group contacts have apparently taken place in third countries, but the differences of opinion between the two Koreas have apparently been significant, notably on the subject of Kim Jong Il travelling to South Korea.

North Korea generally maintains that the third summit should be held in Pyongyang due to issues surrounding Kim Jong Il's security, but the South ideally believes that since the first two summits were held in Pyongyang, Kim Jong Il should make the journey this time around.

However, President Lee, during the TV broadcast, opted for "utility" to describe the purpose of the third round of inter-Korean talks, which would be to discuss denuclearization, rather than simply the "formality" of a meeting, and took a step back regarding the location. And as the North was first to show an interest in a meeting between the two heads of state, a response is to be expected.

As President Lee explained, "We went to the North twice and met them, so it is true that it is now their turn to come to the South. However, if it helps [to resolve] the nuclear issue, then the talks do not have to be necessarily in Seoul nor on South Korean territory for that matter."

He clearly expressed the principle of the talks as he sees it, noting, "Summit talks do not need to be immediately held for political purposes, but if they help the North to abandon their nuclear weapons and can help resolve prisoners of war (POW) or abductee issues at the humanitarian level, then we can go ahead and meet."

Further, he emphasized, "The South Korean government should approach inter-Korean issues as normal. The most pressing issue is to resolve the nuclear crisis."

In particular, he stated, "South Korea is really the main party concerned with the North's nuclear issue. It is the country which is under the most direct threat, so we proposed a Grand Bargain and most [of the international community] expressed agreement."

He also stressed, "So I hope that that North and South Korea can reach reconciliation by resolving nuclear and humanitarian issues, and head towards collaborative prosperity."

Regarding the broadcast, Yoon Duk Min, a Professor at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and Security, provided the following analysis, "We could catch a glimpse of the extremely strong intent of the President regarding the summit. He is basically saying that he will not be hindered by the location issue as long as the talks can help move denuclearization forward and resolve other pending problems."

In Sogang University Professor Kim Young Soo’s evaluation, "He [the President] seems to have placed weight on the utility rather than the appearance or formality of a meeting. President Lee seems to be relaying a big message to the North that a necessary meeting such as this will not be thwarted by location."

Additionally, he explained, "The reason behind the breakdown in the high-level contact between the two Koreas after August can be attributed to the location of the talks. But this statement by the President has removed the possibility of a rupture occurring due to the issue of location."

He then stated, "Now the President's statement has produced a consensus that the location is not a key variable, discussions have turned to other issues, such as the agenda."

Professor Yoon also refuted the point made by some that President Lee's proposal of specific agenda items such as the nuclear issue could cast a negative influence, "Now, North Korea also wants dialogue, which is different from in the past when our side requested it."

Specifically, he went on, "North Korea, in order to build the solidarity of its regime in the last one or two years, has been employing a confrontational foreign strategy, but nowadays it has assumed a quiet stance so as to recover its position of receiving aid from South Korea. Just as the North created an atmosphere for the July 4th Joint Declaration when Kim Jong Il came forward as the successor, it probably now has the mentality that progress in inter-Korean relations is needed to further the succession system."