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Prospects high for early resumption of six-party talks: S.Korean official

PLA Daily 2004-02-02

SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Prospects are high for an early resumption of six-party talks on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear crisis, possibly in February, a South Korean official said Sunday.

South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Su-hyuck made the remarks after meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly who arrived earlier in the day for a three-day visit to South Korea.

"South Korea and the United States shared the view that the atmosphere is ripe for a new round of six-party talks," Lee told reporters. "We reviewed the latest developments and checked details item by item."

Before the meeting, Kelly expressed "mildly optimistic" over early resumption of the talks, saying that the dialogue would be able to reopen "perhaps even this month of February."

Kelly is also scheduled to meet South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon and Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun Monday before leaving for Japan Tuesday.

The first round six-party nuclear talks was held in Beijing last August.