  We show that long distance contributions to the rare decays K -> pi nu nu-bar
and K -> pi l+ l- can be computed using lattice QCD. The proposed approach
requires well established methods, successfully applied in the calculations of
electromagnetic and semileptonic form factors. The extra power divergences,
related to the use of weak four-fermion operators, can be eliminated using only
the symmetries of the lattice action without ambiguities or complicated
non-perturbative subtractions. We demonstrate that this is true even when a
lattice action with explicit chiral symmetry breaking is employed. Our study
opens the possibility of reducing the present uncertainty in the theoretical
predictions for these decays.
