(LEAD) Campbell says too early to discuss lifting N. Korea sanctions

(ATTN: UPDATES with additional remarks, more background)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Kurt Campbell, U.S. assistant secretary of state for
East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said Tuesday it is too early to discuss removal
of U.N. sanctions on North Korea, especially amid the communist nation's
provocative actions, such as its recent firing of artillery.

The U.S. diplomat also said it is "too early to tell" if there will be any
additional talks between his country and Pyongyang for the resumption of
six-party negotiations on ending North Korea's nuclear ambition.
"I think our belief is that it's going to be very important for North Korea to
come back to the six-party talks to abide by its commitments made in 2005 and
2007, and then within that context, the United States is prepared to work with
partners in Japan, South Korea and China in terms of next steps," Campbell told
reporters shortly after arriving here from Japan on a three-day visit.
North Korea agreed in six-party accords signed in 2005 and 2007 to give up its
nuclear ambitions in exchange for political and economic concessions, but said in
April last year that it would permanently quit the nuclear negotiations.
Pyongyang said last month that it may return to the six-party negotiations that
also involve South Korea, the U.S., Japan, China and Russia, but only if the
sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council are first removed.
The U.S. assistant secretary of state noted the North is making it harder for the
countries to discuss the possible removal of sanctions with its recent firing of
artillery near a disputed border in the Yellow Sea.
"It is too early to be talking about sanctions relief given that we haven't had a
resumption of talks and, in fact, in recent days we have seen provocative actions
with artillery firing and the like, so I think that's one of the things we want
to do while we are here in Seoul -- to communicate closely and coordinate with
our partners here," he said.
Campbell said one of key purposes of his trip here is to coordinate the next
steps for the six-party talks, which were last held in December 2008.
"I think we would very much like to make sure the United States and South Korea
are as close as possible on all issues associated with the six-party engagement,
our mutual strategy toward North Korea," he told reporters.
Other agenda items to be discussed with his South Korean counterparts include
ways to move forward with the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, which was signed
in 2007, and Seoul's commitment to the international community, seen in its
recent decisions to send troops to Afghanistan and earthquake-hit Haiti, Campbell
said.
"I think our relationship is on a very positive trajectory, and I am just here to
support that process," he said.
The U.S. assistant secretary is set to hold talks with South Korea's Deputy
Foreign Minister Lee Yong-joon on Wednesday, following his meeting with the top
presidential adviser on security issues, Kim Sung-hwan, according to officials at
the South Korean foreign ministry.
He will head home Thursday after meeting with Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and
also Seoul's point man on North Korea, Unification Minister Hyun In-taek.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)

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