Seoul, Nov 06: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf met with South Korean leader Roh Moo-Hyun here today after denouncing as a smear campaign charges that Islamabad helped North Korea's nuclear weapons drive.
Pakistan, which maintains cordial ties with the North Korean leadership, has been repeatedly accused of aiding Pyongyang's atomic ambitions in return for help with Islamabad's own missile development.


"I would like to assure you that all reports linking Pakistan to North Korea's nuclear programme are totally incorrect and malicious in nature," said Musharraf in an interview with the 'Korea Herald' newspaper.


The one-hour meeting, the first between the two leaders, focused on the nuclear crisis and bilateral relations, especially trade, South Korean officials said.
Cooperation agreements on information-technology and energy and mineral industries were signed, they said.

Musharraf earlier described the one-year standoff between Pyongyang and Washington as a "grave crisis" and urged North Korea to show restraint and avoid escalating tension.

But he made no direct call in support of international demands that Pyongyang scrap its nuclear weapons, according to the published interview transcript.
"Pakistan is opposed to nuclear proliferation and is committed to universal and complete nuclear disarmament," Musharraf was quoted as saying.

Bureau Report