Contacts for 6-Way Talks Spurred
2003-08-09
Diplomatic action is under way between South Korea and participants in the proposed six-way multilateral meeting to resolve the North Korean nuclear weapons issue, ripening the mood for the opening of talks.
United States Secretary of State Colin Powell's remarks that Congress would endorse a semiformal security guarantee to North Korea threw further weight behind the contacts, as it marks an advance from Washington's previous position.
The Japanese daily Sankei Shimbun said on Friday (Aug. 8) that South Korea, the U.S. and Japan will meet in Washington on Aug. 13-14 to coordinate their policy prior to the talks.
Seoul officials said no dates have been set but conceded such a meeting will take place next week before the six-way discussion begins.
No opening dates have been set for the talks, to be attended by South Korea, China, Russia, Japan, the U.S. and North Korea. Observers expect talks to begin by next month.
Aside from the trilateral policy coordination between Seoul, Tokyo and Washington, a series of bilateral diplomatic actions are either underway or planned in the coming days.
South Korea's Vice Foreign Affairs-Trade Minister Kim Jae-sup is expected to discuss plans for the six-way talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov in Moscow on Aug. 13.
“Seoul's position is that it will discuss not only the talks' schedule, venue and level but also its contents, if Russia is ready,” said Kim Young-suk, director-general of the ministry's European affairs bureau.
The vice foreign minister will visit Russia from Aug. 9-14 to take part in the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg, where one week has been set aside as “Korea Week.” He will also meet with First Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loshchinin.
Sergei Mironov, the speaker for Russia's upper house of parliament, met with Chinese President Hu Jintao during his China visit which started Monday.
China, which has waged all-out efforts to get the dialogue started, sent Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Pyongyang on Thursday. During his visit until Sunday, Wang is expected to conduct last minute negotiations on the schedule and agenda of the nuclear talks.
Beijing will also send Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing to China's east Asian neighbors next week, visiting Japan on Aug. 10-13 and South Korea from Aug. 13-15, where the North Korean issue is expected to top the agenda.
Source : www.korea.net
