U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to Washington, DC on October 13, and the two leaders traveled together to Detroit the following day to urge early approval of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) by both legislatures. On the eve of the visit, the New Beginnings policy study group released its annual report of recommendations on U.S.-Korea relations to the Obama administration. With U.S.-South Korean relations stronger than ever and with presidential elections scheduled in both countries late next year, the New Beginnings policy experts urged a steady course and a focus on implementation of current policies rather than new initiatives in the alliance or toward North Korea.