• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Seoul Expects 6-Way Talks Next Month

Korea-Net

Release Date: 7/25/2003

The format of the much-disputed multilateral talks on the North Korean nuclear standoff will most likely become a six-way dialogue including South Korea, North Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia, according to Seoul officials on Friday (July 25).

Given various factors, the six-way dialogue is the most feasible format for the multilateral talks on the North Korean nuclear issue rather than the previously forecast five-way one,¡± a Cheong Wa Dae official said.

This means Russia will take part in the future nuclear dialogue,¡± the official said, adding, ¡°So far, no party has made a comment about excluding Russia from the dialogue process.¡±

He said it is most probable that the nuclear talks will be held sometime in mid-August. A trilateral dialogue among North Korea, the United States and China will be held first, immediately followed by the multilateral talks.

He explained that North Korea has been preferring the idea of including Russia, which it regards as one of its major allies along with China, in the international community.

In comparison with Japan, which North Korea considers as a tough dialogue partner due to various knotty bilateral issues involving, for instance, the North¡¯s alleged abduction of some Japanese families and Japan¡¯s move toward rearmament, Russia has been siding with North Korea in many respects,¡± the official said, asking not to be named.

National Security Advisor Ra Jong-yil also hinted the multilateral talks will become a six-way one by saying, ¡°Russia has been playing a role in the process of resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.¡±

The multilateral dialogue should take place at the earliest date possible to lay the groundwork for the peaceful settlement of the North Korean nuclear standoff. I believe next month will be most possible date for such talks,¡± he said during an interview with a KBS radio program.

Regarding the telephone conversation between President Roh Moo-hyun and U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday night, Ra said, ¡°The U.S. may have felt the need to coordinate its stance on the North Korean nuclear issue with us because it completed consultations with China during Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo¡¯s visit to the U.S.¡±

Meantime, Interfax News Agency of Russia reported July 24 that the relevant countries had agreed to hold the six-way talks including Russia after the trilateral dialogue.

The U.S. has agreed on holding the six-way dialogue one day after the tripartite talks,¡± the agency said.