President Roh Moo-hyun said Wednesday that he has “positive expectations” about the North Korean nuclear issue, expressing optimism for its resolution.

He made the remark at a dinner meeting with foreign envoys based in Korea.

The president also predicted that Korea’s per-capita national income will soon reach the 20,000-dollar mark, adding that the nation's major economic indicators such as stock prices, exports and foreign exchange reserves are sound despite rising oil prices and the weakened dollar.

He asked the diplomats for their support of Pyeongchang’s bid for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

The meeting is an annual event for foreign envoys in Korea. Around 200 people, including ambassadors from 91 countries, were in attendance.