US May Guarantee Survival of NK Regime: Kelly
January 15, 2003
Visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly said on Tuesday (Jan. 14) the United States may guarantee the survival of North Korean regime.
"But the United States has yet to come up with specific measures over how to assure the safety of the North," Rep. Lee Chang-bok of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) quoted Kelly as having said, briefing the outcome of Kelly's meeting with a group of lawmakers at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.
Kelly was also quoted to have noted the North already possesses capability to produce nuclear weapons given its nuclear-related technology and procurement of components.
Kelly stressed the North Korean nuclear issue will possibly be dealt with at the United Nations Security Council, but the United States would not refer the issue solely to the council.
Responding to the question of whether the United States would focus on the North Korean nuclear issue and ratchet up tension on the Korean peninsula after the possible settlement of its standoff against Iraq, Kelly said the United States will continue its current policy toward the North irrespective of the Iraqi issue.
Kelly also met with presidential security advisor Lim Dong-won and agreed on the need to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue, despite the North¡¯s dependence upon brinkmanship diplomacy.
¡°They reaffirmed the basic policy of the two nations that the nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully and diplomatically, with South Korea taking the leading role,¡± said a Cheong Wa Dae official.
Sources noted Lim conveyed Seoul¡¯s stance that it would persuade North Korea to repeal its decision to withdraw from the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and comply with various obligations to the international community during the upcoming inter-Korean ministerial talks.
Kelly conveyed U.S. President George W. Bush¡¯s invitation for President-elect Roh Moon-hyun to visit the United States in March after his inauguration Feb. 25.
Kelly also met Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Tai-sik over lunch on Tuesday to discuss the North Korean issue and other mutual concerns. The two agreed to press for close consultation between the two nations on the basis of the outcome of the recent Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group (TCOG) meeting early this month.
Kelly left for Beijing on Tuesday afternoon.
Source : www.korea.net
