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NK Agrees to Multilateral Talks on Nuke Issue

2003-07-14

South and North Korea inched a step closer to the realization of expanded multilateral talks on the North's controversial nuclear weapons program at the 11th ministerial talks, which ended in Seoul on Saturday.

Wrapping up tedious all-night negotiations, the Seoul and Pyongyang officials came up a six-point joint statement in the morning, pledging that the two sides "will resolve the nuclear issue peacefully through an appropriate dialogue format."

Shin Eon-sang, assistant unification minister and South Korea's spokesman for the talks, said the result opens the way for dialogue to solve the nuclear standoff.

"It can be seen as the North's suggestion that it will accept expanded multilateral talks," he said in a briefing to reporters.

Pyongyang had previously refused to discuss the nuclear issue with Seoul, insisting on bilateral talks with Washington.

At the last Cabinet-level talks in April, the two Koreas agreed to "continue to cooperate for a dialogue-based and peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue," without elaborating on the format of dialogue.

The United States has said multilateral talks including South Korea and Japan are the only acceptable form of future dialogue with North Korea.

Seoul delegates, headed by Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun, strongly urged Pyongyang throughout the four days of negotiations to accept the expanded multilateral talks, saying it is the only way for the reclusive nation to win the security guarantee and economic assistance it wants.

The Pyongyang team, led by Senior Cabinet Councilor Kim Ryong-song, despite indications in an arrival speech that it may tackle the nuclear issue with Seoul, tantalized South Korean officials by adhering to its position that the nuclear row is a bilateral matter with Washington.

Despite tension on the nuclear issue, the two Koreas agreed to continue exchange programs.

They promised to arrange an eighth round of inter-Korean reunions of separated families around Chuseok, which falls on Sept. 11, in the North's Mt. Kumgang.

Officials said asymmetrical reunions, meaning more South Koreans going to the reunions than the North Koreans, may be introduced for the first time.

A sixth round of economic talks was scheduled for Aug. 26-29 in Seoul, and a joint vice-minister-level body will be set up to activate social and cultural exchanges.

The next ministerial meeting has been slated for Oct. 14-17 in Pyongyang.

Source : www.korea.net