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Delegates Begin to Arrive for Six-Way Talks

2003-08-26

BEIJING - Representatives of countries participating in the first round of six-way talks aimed at resolving North Korea's nuclear weapons program started to arrive here Monday (Aug. 25).

Amid low expectations for a major breakthrough, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov, together with other members of his team, touched down on an Aeroflot flight at 10:10 a.m. as the first among the five visiting countries to arrive here.

The South Korean delegation, headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck and his 18-member contingent was the second, landing at 2:20 p.m.

In a briefing with Korean reporters, Lee said that it was inappropriate to predict what to expect from the three-day meeting starting Wednesday. "It is not a zero-sum game to distinguish winners from losers," he said.

"However, I expect discussions to be serious," he added. Lee is expected to promise massive aid to Pyongyang in return for its renunciation of nuclear weapons during his keynote speech to be given on the first day of the three-way talks.

Lee is expected to fine-tune South Korea's stance with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly and Mitoji Yabunaka, Director General of Japan's Foreign Ministry, Tuesday. In addition, the South Korean delegation is scheduled to hold bilateral contacts with host China and Russia separately before attending a welcoming reception.

Kelly and Yabunaka arrived here at 8:30 p.m. Monday.

According to sources, Japan is planning to raise an issue over North Korea's admitted abductions of Japanese nationals during the upcoming talks, which emerges as another hurdle to a successful first round of talks. The abduction issue is expected to be one of key items on the agenda.

North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong-il will arrive here this morning.

Originally an expert in African affairs, Kim is regarded to be lightweight with his role in the talks limited to a mere liaison officer, according to officials of one participating country.

The meeting schedule has it that top delegates of the six participating countries will deliver a speech at the opening of the talks Wednesday, spend all day Thursday on discussions and are expected to come up with a joint statement Friday.

According to sources, the participating countries would be better off not expecting much from the first round. "I think they would be happy just to get around to arranging the date for the next round," Lee added.

Source : www.korea.net