WASHINGTON (CNN) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Sunday he would "welcome" and "support" a meeting between President-elect Barack Obama and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il if Obama were to take such a step after taking office.

In an interview with CNN's Alina Cho at the Group of 20 financial summit in Washington, Lee said that when he spoke with Obama after the U.S. presidential election, Obama promised to consult with South Korea before taking any major action on North Korea.

In response to a question at a presidential debate, Obama said he would meet without preconditions during the first year of his administration with leaders of several nations whose governments have been at odds with the United States, including North Korea.

Laying out his foreign policy on his campaign Web site prior to the election, Obama said he and his running mate would "use tough diplomacy -- backed by real incentives and real pressures -- to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to eliminate North Korea's nuclear weapon program."

"Barack Obama and Joe Biden will not take any options off the table, but they will emphasize first and foremost the power of American diplomacy and make clear the substantial benefits to Iran and North Korea of abandoning their dangerous nuclear programs while simultaneously conveying the enormous costs to them should they fail to do so," according to the Web site.

Lee told CNN he has high expectations for Obama, calling him "the right leader at the right time." He said any damage done in recent years to U.S. global leadership may be because the country relied too heavily on "hard power," and that he believes Obama will be effective in utilizing "soft power."

A former CEO of Hyundai, Lee criticized the idea of a bailout of the U.S. auto industry, saying it would set a bad precedent

Station crew welcomes shuttle astronauts

(CNN) -- Space shuttle Endeavour docked Sunday with the international space station, where the shuttle crew will help install more living space.

The shuttle, also carrying mission specialist Sandra Magnus to replace station flight engineer Greg Chamitoff, docked with the station just after 5 p.m. ET about 212 miles above northern India.

Chamitoff, who has been on the space station for nearly six months, greeted his ride home enthusiastically.

"You look beautiful," Chamitoff said by radio. "I am smiling from ear to ear."

The seven-member shuttle crew and the station crew were expected to greet each other at about 7 p.m. ET after opening their vehicles' hatches. Watch the docking »

Before the docking, the shuttle did a nine-minute backflip so station astronauts could take high-resolution pictures of the shuttle's thermal-protection system, NASA said. NASA will look at the photos for damage on Endeavour, which launched Friday. Watch the shuttle Endeavour's liftoff »

It was a gash on the wing of space shuttle Columbia that caused its destruction and the deaths of seven astronauts during re-entry February 1, 2003.

While there, the astronauts will increase the station's living space with room for six instead of the current three. They'll install more places to sleep, another bathroom, a better water system, more exercise equipment and a bigger refrigerator.

The population on board the space station is to grow to six next spring.

Also on tap are four space walks focusing on the station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints, which allow the solar panels to track the sun.

The shuttle is also bringing Thanksgiving dinner, with irradiated turkey, candied yams, stuffing and dessert, because it won't be returning to earth until November 29.

Besides Magnus, members of the shuttle crew are commander Chris Ferguson, pilot Eric Boe, and astronauts Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Steve Bowen, Don Petit and Shane Kimbrough.