The politics of South and North Korea have been greatly influenced by U.S. policy. What happens within South Korean politics is also important to policymakers in the United States. The start of the 21st century coincides with the inauguration of U.S. President George W. Bush. Among South and North Korean leaders, the birth of the Bush administration will not be widely welcomed. South Korea's Kim Dae Jung and North Korea's Kim Jong Il may suffer a bit as a result of the new administration.