ROK, US Agree to Induce NK to Multilateral Talks
2003-03-28
WASHINGTON -- Foreign Affairs-Trade Minister Yoon Young-kwan and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell held a meeting Friday to discuss pending issues including the lingering standoff over North Korea's nuclear program.
The foreign ministers' meeting, the first of its kind since the inauguration of Roh Moo-hyun government, also touched on other crucial security issues such as the realignment of the alliance between the two nations.
Prior to the meeting, Yoon told reporters that he would convey Seoul's stance that it is necessary to resume dialogue as soon as possible to settle the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully.
“We will discuss details to induce North Korea to participate in the U.S.-initiated multilateral dialogue format,” he said.
Another ministry official said the United States has maintained the same position as South Korea regarding the need to resume the dialogue as soon as possible.
“The two ministers will focus on specific measures to realize the dialogue to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through diplomacy,” he said.
He stopped short of elaborating on what Seoul's plan was to attract the North to the dialogue table but indicated the possibility the North would adopt a more positive attitude.
“There is no decisive proof that North Korea has changed its stance toward having direct talks with the United States instead of multilateral negotiations, but it is also true that the North has been talking 'differently' during recent meetings with relevant nations,” he said.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly stated during a Congress hearing on Wednesday that North Korea has been showing signs of backing down from its position that the nuclear issue can only be resolved through direct talks between Pyongyang and Washington.
Sources said South Korea has been working out a so-called “two plus four” consultative body comprising South and North Korea and four surrounding nations _ the U.S., Japan, China and Russia _ to address the nuclear issue.
Seoul maintains North Korea will be able to talk directly with the U.S. once it comes to the table for multilateral dialogue.
Yoon and Powell also discussed details of President Roh Moo-hyun's planned visit to the U.S. and his summit talks with U.S. President George Bush, which are slated for May.
On Thursday, Yoon met with a group of U.S. parliamentary leaders including Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and chairman of Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Richard Lugar to discuss security issues on the Korean peninsula
Source : www.korea.net
