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On his last day in Asia, Mr. Obama stood side by side with South Korean president Lee Myung Bak,

but much of their focus was on North Korea and its nuclear weapons program. “Our message is clear. If North Korea is prepared to take concrete and irreversible steps to fulfill its obligations and eliminate its nuclear weapons program, the United States will support economic assistance and help promote its full integration into the community of nations. That opportunity and respect will not come with threats. North Korea must live up to its obligations.”

 

That statement echoed President Lee’s offer of a grand bargain, aid for the communist North in return for giving up nuclear weapons. North Koreans haven’t yet conveyed what they’ve thought of the grand bargain, but in order for the North Koreans to ensure their stability to improve the lives of the North Korean population, to have economic prosperity, ensure for a better future for the North Koreans, it is my wish that the North Koreans adopt the grand bargain proposal.”

 

The offer came just a week after North and South Korean ships exchanged fire near disputed border in the yellow sea. Neither president mentioned to the sea clash today, instead Mr. Obama announced he’ll send an envoy to North Korea next month. The first direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang since he took office. But he insisted it’s time for the North to change its ways.

 

“The thing I want to emphasize is that President Lee and I both agree on the need to break the pattern that has existed in the past, in which North Korea behaves in a provocative fashion. It then is willing to return to talks, get talks for a while, and then leaves the talks seeking further concessions.

And there’s never actually any progress on the core issues.”

 

There also was a point of tension between Mr. Obama and his South Korean host, a stalled free trade agreement. Opponents in the US congress have complained such a deal would hurt US manufacturers. But the president said he expects progress. “To strengthen those ties, President Lee and I discussed the US-Korea free trade agreement which holds up the promise of serving our mutual interests and together we’re committed to working together to move the agreement forward.”

 

Those same themes of liberalizing trade policy and halting the spread of nuclear weapons dominated much of the president’s Asia tour which also took him to Japan, Singapore, and China. The goal was to show American reengagement with the fast growing and increasingly influential region.

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