41.   They had previously only been used in a support role.

42.   Under the proposal, the talks would involve the two Koreas with the United States and China is support roles.

43.   US President Bill Clinton and South Korean President Kim Young-Sam proposed the inter-Korean peace talks last year, with Beijing and Washington intended to play support roles.

44.   Washington and Seoul have proposed four-party talks between the two Koreas, with Washington and Beijing in support roles.

45.   US President Bill Clinton and South Korean President Kim Young-Sam have proposed the inter-Korean peace talks, with Beijing and Washington supposed to play a support role.

46.   Lake visited Seoul in February and worked on a joint proposal for peace talks between the two Koreas, with Washington and Beijing playing a support role.

47.   Meanwhile China, which would join the United States in support roles in the talks, did not participate.

48.   North Korea has said it is studying the proposal for four-way talks to include the United States and China in a support role.

49.   North Korea had earlier agreed to attend a preliminary briefing in January on the talks, which would involve Washington and Beijing in a support role.

50.   Other US troops were being deployed in a support role, he said.