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US senior official meets S.Korean ministers on DPRK nuclear issue

PLA Daily 2004-02-03

SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- US senior official continued making consultations with South Korean officials on the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday here.

Chief US negotiator for multilateral nuclear talks with the DPRK, James Kelly, on Monday held meetings with Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun and Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon.

South Korean Yonhap News Agency quoted Park Chan-bong, a deputy assistant unification minister for unification policy, as saying that Kelly told Jeong "the inter-Korean ministerial talks are useful for the solution of the nuclear issue."

"Solution of the DPRK nuclear issue will set up solid root for Pyongyang to get international aids," Kelly said during the meeting.

Kelly also said he hopes the second round of multilateral nuclear talks will be convened soon.

Moreover, according to report of local TV channel YTN, during discussions with Jeong, Kelly reiterated that the "nuclear issue is an international issue rather than a matter only between Washington and Pyongyang."

"I hope the coming inter-Korean ministerial talks will make progress over the nuclear issue," YTN quoted Kelly as reporting.

Kelly arrived in South Korea on last Sunday. His visit here came before the 13th Inter-Korean Ministerial Meeting which was slated to be held from Tuesday to Friday.

Upon his arrival, Kelly expressed "mildly optimistic" over the prospect of a new round of six-party nuclear talks. "I hope that we will be able to have the talks before long...perhaps even this month."

During Monday's meeting, Jeong Se-hyun said that he felt less burdened on the upcoming inter-Korean ministerial talks because Kelly had spoken positively on the second round of nuclear talks, reported Yonhap.

The US official also made a courtesy call on South Korean top diplomat Ban Ki-moon on Monday, reported Yonhap. It was their first meeting since Ban was appointed as foreign minister in this January.

Kelly will leave here later in the day for Tokyo.