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Seoul, Tokyo Weigh NK Nuke Issue

2003-06-04

Officials from South Korea and Japan are now seriously considering how they will deal with the lingering standoff over North Korea's nuclear weapons drive during the forthcoming summit between President Roh Moo-hyun and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on June 7.

The two heads of state are expected to agree that the North Korean nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully through dialogue while urging the North to relinquish its nuclear weapons program in verifiable and irreversible ways.

"But what matters is how they will describe possible retaliatory steps against Pyongyang in case it continues to take measures that will worsen the security situation in a joint statement to be adopted at the end of their summit," said a Cheong Wa Dae official.

Seoul and Tokyo have maintained different stances with regard to retaliation. President Roh and U.S. President George W. Bush agreed to take "further steps" to cope with the increased threat from North Korea during a summit last month, while Bush and Koizumi decided to take "tougher steps" against the communist North.

"We are considering two options. One is to include specific retaliatory steps against North Korea in the joint statement and the other is not to mention it, only reaffirming the principle for a peaceful settlement of the nuclear row," said the official.

Roh and Koizumi are also expected to discuss the issue of the format for nuclear talks. The U.S. and Japan hold the position that future talks should include Seoul and Tokyo, rebuffing North Korea's persistent call for bilateral meeting between Pyongyang and Washington.

In contrast, Seoul has maintained that the format of dialogue should not matter because what is more important is to sustain the dialogue momentum.

It is also possible the Japanese side will ask South Korea to take tough measures against North Korea's drug smuggling and missile exports, annoying Seoul officials.

"Japan is also expected to call on us to show interest in the North's kidnapping of Japanese nationals, which has been a bone of contention in Japan," said the official.

Source : www.korea.net