S. Korean president hopes nuclear summit to be "milestone" in deterring nuclear terrorism

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Tuesday he hopes the international nuclear summit he hosts next year will be a milestone in efforts to stifle the rise of nuclear terrorism. Preventing terrorist from acquiring nuclear weapons is as important as banning nuclear development of individual countries, Lee added during a luncheon meeting with a group of policymakers and scholars brought together to advise him on nuclear security ahead of the Seoul Nuclear Summit. Lee asked six members of the 15-member Eminent Persons Group to come up with policy proposals and actively promote the conference, slated for March 26-27 in Seoul, according to his office Cheong Wa Dae. The group includes former Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Singapore's Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Shinichi Kitaoka, a Tokyo University professor. The advisors are to adopt a joint statement containing their proposals for the event, including persuading participating countries to make specific pledges on nuclear security and drawing up concrete action plans, Cheong Wa Dae said.