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SLUG: 2-298118 U-S/N Korea (S)
DATE: NOTE NUMBER: |
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DATE=1-7-03 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=U-S-NORTH KOREA (S) NUMBER=2-298118 BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Senior diplomats from the United States, South Korea and Japan are meeting at the State Department in an effort to forge a common front on North Korea's nuclear program. The meeting comes in advance of an Asian mission by the Bush administration's "point man" on North Korea, Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly. VOA's David Gollust has details in this report from the State Department. TEXT: The meeting began with a three-way handshake among Mr. Kelly, South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Tae-Shik and senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official Mitoji Yabunaka. The plenary session, following informal talks Monday, is expected to end with a joint statement pledging common goals and approaches by the three allies in dealing with the series of steps by North Korea in recent weeks spurning nuclear safeguards and possibly opening the way to weapons production. On the eve of the meeting, President Bush reaffirmed the United States has no intention of attacking North Korea and will have dialogue with the reclusive government in Pyongyang. But the president said he expects it to keep its word not to develop nuclear weapons. In a flurry of diplomacy, South Korea's national security adviser Kim Sung-Joon is due in Washington for talks with his U-S counterpart Condoleezza Rice and Assistant Secretary of State Kelly leaves late this week on a mission to Seoul and Tokyo. (Signed) NEB/DAG/FC |
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