Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6-15-04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S-KOREA NUCLEAR (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-316750

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: U-S Cites "Real Desire" for Nuclear Accord with North Korea

INTRO: The Bush administration said Tuesday it is heading to the next round of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program with a "real desire" to find a diplomatic solution to the issue. Officials say the United States does not oppose the nuclear freeze offered by Pyongyang, provided it is a stop on the way to full disarmament. VOA's David Gollust has details from the State Department.

TEXT: Officials here say the U.S. goal remains the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of North Korea's nuclear program, or C.V.I.D. diplomatic parlance.

But a senior diplomat here says the U.S. delegation is not going to Beijing just to "throw out those abbreviations," and is prepared for a negotiating process that would allow Pyongyang to accrue some benefits even before its program is completely scrapped.

The comments followed a long-awaited announcement by China that it will host a new set of six-party talks next week, beginning with two days of working-group meetings starting Monday and moving directly to a three-day plenary meeting, the third round since the talks began last year.

In Seoul, meanwhile, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said his country was ready to offer huge infusions of economic assistance to the North if the nuclear weapons dispute is resolved peacefully.

The United States has ruled out providing benefits - economic or diplomatic - to Pyongyang short of an agreement for C.V.I.D. But at a news briefing, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher made clear the Bush administration would not stand in the way of aid offers by other participants in the talks:

///Boucher actuality///

We recognize that other countries might be willing to do certain things at certain stages. And that's O.K. But in the end, I think we're all looking for a de-nuclearized peninsula, and we're all trying to achieve that goal. As far as the United States is concerned, we don't have any intention of rewarding North Korea for things it never should have done to begin with, but we do understand there is a process here.

///end act///

Mr. Boucher said the United States is going into the new round with a "real desire" to find a diplomatic solution and that the "whole neighborhood", including North Korea, would be better off if one is reached.

North Korea offered at the last round of talks to freeze its nuclear program in exchange for international aid and security guarantees from the United States.

A senior diplomat who spoke to reporters here said the United States is "not against" a freeze per se, but that it must be clear that the freeze is a only step toward the elimination of the North Korean nuclear program.

The Bush administration, while ruling out interim concessions, has said it its willing to be part of multi-lateral security assurances for North Korea under an agreement for C.V.I.D.

It has also said that in the context of an agreement, it might revive a plan, under consideration before the nuclear crisis began, for increased U-S aid and recognition for Pyongyang.

///rest optional///

Along with the United States, North Korea and China, the six-party talks also include South Korea, Japan and Russia.

The U.S. team at next week's working group meetings will be headed by special envoy Joseph DiTrani, and at the plenary talks by Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs James Kelly.

The nuclear dispute began with a Pyongyang visit by Mr. Kelly in October 2002, in which he confronted North Korean officials with evidence they had a covert uranium-enrichment program in violation of the 1994 nuclear freeze accord with Washington.

U.S. officials say North Korea acknowledged the enrichment effort at the time, but Pyongyang subsequently denied its existence and said its weapons program is plutonium-based. The Bush administration says any settlement must cover all elements of the North Korean program. (Signed)

NEB/DAF/PT/MEM