Lee sends message to Obama to commemorate 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 attacks

President Lee Myung-bak sent a message of comfort to U.S. President Barack Obama on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on Saturday, pledging to work together with the traditional ally to make sure such a tragedy won't happen again.

"On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, I would again like to convey my deepest condolences on behalf of the government and people of the Republic of Korea to the victims who perished in the atrocious attacks of 2001, their bereaved families and the people of the United States," Lee said in the message, according to his office.

"The Korean people join me in expressing our admiration for the unified courage and indomitable determination shown by the people and government of the United States in the process of overcoming as grave a tragedy as 9/11," he said.

"Based on the spirit of the ROK-US Alliance, the Korean people have been actively participating in the efforts of the international community to eliminate terrorism since 9/11, alongside peace-loving nations including the United States. We will continue to cooperate with you to eradicate such heinous acts of terrorism."

Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida extremist network is blamed for the attacks in New York and Washington, which killed nearly 3,000 people. Bin Laden was killed earlier this year in a U.S. attack on a compound in Pakistan.

(Yonhap)