Bush, S. Korean President Suggest More Patience With Kim Jong Il

President Lee Myung-bak and President Bush were united yesterday at Camp David in their position that North Korea should be given time to cooperate. (By Lawrence Jackson -- Associated Press)

But former U.N. ambassador John R. Bolton said that U.S. policy toward North Korea is "in free fall" and that the Bush administration appears desperate to reach an agreement.

"The North Koreans love patience," Bolton said. "They want tangible economic support and actions in exchange for promises they have absolutely no intention of keeping. . . . Every day of patience is another day propping up Kim Jong Il's regime."

In his remarks, Bush also urged U.S. lawmakers to abandon "protectionist sentiment" and approve a free-trade agreement with South Korea, which the administration plans to submit to Congress this year.

"It's in our country's interests that we approve this agreement," Bush said.

But the House has already blocked a similar proposal for Colombia, and Democratic leaders have signaled that there is little chance that any other trade pact will be considered in a presidential election year. The Democratic presidential candidates, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.), have said they are opposed to the Korean pact without modifications.

Unlike British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who also visited Washington last week, Lee did not meet with the two Democrats or with Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the presumptive Republican nominee, during his trip.

But Derek J. Mitchell, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Lee's focus on issues such as the beef pact and visa waivers suggests he is "laying the groundwork" for relations with the next U.S. president.

"I think he's looking a bit past this administration," Mitchell said. "He's saying, 'We're back as an ally, and we're going to change as a place to do business and invest.' "