In his first state visit since he was inaugurated as president in February, Mr Kim is visiting the US to look at ways of improving relations between North and South Korea, and to discuss his country's economic crisis.

He is to hold talks with President Clinton in Washington on Tuesday, and he will also be meeting investors and representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

A large business delegation, led by South Korea's Trade Minister Park Tae-young is also visiting, trying to attract American investment.

Last year, South Korea's financial crisis meant that it had to ask the IMF for its largest ever package of emergency loans worth more than $57bn.

Chequered history

Although long term allies, the US and South Korea have had a patchy relationship.

More than 37,000 US troops are stationed in the country to help prevent an attack from North Korea.

But the BBC correspondent in South Korea says some historians believe the country has been betrayed by the US twice in the past.

Firstly by allowing Japan to colonise the country in the first part of the century, and secondly, by withdrawing troops in the late 1940s which resulted in attack from the Communists and the start of the Korean war.

Personal debt

The correspondent also said President Kim has his own particular debt to the United States.

US intervention prevented him from being executed for his democratic beliefs by some of the country's previous authoritarian military regimes.

Mr Kim left his own country on a high note after winning a landslide victory in local elections, despite implementing tough economic reforms demanded by the IMF.