South Korean president Lee in Burma, meets Suu Kyi | Asia Bulletin

South Korean president Lee in Burma, meets Suu Kyi

Asia Bulletin Tuesday 15th May, 2012

• The visit is the first by a South Korean leader since the 1983 bomb attack by North Korea

• Lee met President Thein Sein in Naypyidaw on Monday

• He also paid his respects at the Martyr's Mausoleum

YANGON - South Korean President Lee Myung-bak met Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi Tuesday as part of his two-day visit to the country.

The visit is the first by a South Korean leader to Burma, also called Myanmar, since the 1983 bomb attack by North Korea which targeted the then South Korean president and killed 21 people.

Suu Kyi said she saw Lee's visit as a demonstration of international goodwill.

"We have to make sure that we do not dissipate this goodwill and that we put it to the best use possible...which is for the sake of our people," she said.

Lee "commended efforts by the government to bring about democracy."

On Monday Lee had met with President Thein Sein in Naypyidaw.

According to officials, Lee's visit to Burma was to discuss economic co-operation.

Security was tight for the visit. Lee also paid his respects to victims of the attack at the Martyr's Mausoleum after his talks with Suu Kyi.

The 1983 bomb attack took place during a visit by former South Korean president Chun Doo-hwan. Chun was to lay a wreath at the mausoleum of Burma's independence hero Aung San, the father of Suu Kyi, but was not present when a bomb went off as his car was held up in traffic.

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