ID :
158282
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 17:16
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Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/158282
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US official urges N. Korea to show sincerity in talks with S. Korea
TOKYO, Jan. 27 Kyodo - Visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg urged North Korea on Thursday to ''demonstrate sincerity'' and return to its 2005 commitment to give up all nuclear programs during proposed preparatory inter-Korean military talks on Feb. 11 in the truce village of Panmunjeom.
Steinberg told reporters after meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara that the success of the upcoming dialogue is up to the North and that Pyongyang has an opportunity to ''demonstrate very concretely that they are prepared to return to their commitments'' made in 2005.
''We've always stressed the importance of the North-South dialogue as the necessary beginning of this process and so I hope that the North takes advantage of this opportunity and demonstrates its sincerity,'' he said.
The inter-Korean military talks are expected to pave the way for other steps to defuse tensions on the Korean Peninsula, including the resumption of the stalled six-party talks on denuclearizing the North. The six-way framework involves the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.
During his meeting with Maehara, which was partially open to the press, Steinberg stressed the importance of ''sending a strong message about the solidarity and cooperation'' between the United States, Japan and South Korea in dealing with ''important challenges that we're facing with North Korea.''
Earlier, Steinberg agreed with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano that the two countries will accelerate preparations for Prime Minister Naoto Kan's planned visit to the United States later this year, aimed at enhancing cooperation in the areas of security, the economy, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges to deepen the bilateral alliance, Japanese officials said.
The senior U.S. official is visiting Japan following his trip to South Korea. He will also hold consultations with Chinese officials in Beijing on Friday on the situation in the Korean Peninsula.
On Wednesday, South Korea proposed military and denuclearization talks with the North as the two countries moved to ease tensions following Pyongyang's deadly artillery attack on a South Korean border island and the revelation of its uranium enrichment program in November.
Steinberg told reporters in Tokyo that the North should show it recognizes that its provocations last year including the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island that killed four South Koreans and the sinking of a South Korean warship, which claimed the lives of 46 sailors, had created ''a very dangerous situation.''
The sinking of the corvette Cheonan in March last year has been blamed on North Korea, but the country has strongly denied involvement in the incident.
Steinberg told reporters after meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara that the success of the upcoming dialogue is up to the North and that Pyongyang has an opportunity to ''demonstrate very concretely that they are prepared to return to their commitments'' made in 2005.
''We've always stressed the importance of the North-South dialogue as the necessary beginning of this process and so I hope that the North takes advantage of this opportunity and demonstrates its sincerity,'' he said.
The inter-Korean military talks are expected to pave the way for other steps to defuse tensions on the Korean Peninsula, including the resumption of the stalled six-party talks on denuclearizing the North. The six-way framework involves the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.
During his meeting with Maehara, which was partially open to the press, Steinberg stressed the importance of ''sending a strong message about the solidarity and cooperation'' between the United States, Japan and South Korea in dealing with ''important challenges that we're facing with North Korea.''
Earlier, Steinberg agreed with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano that the two countries will accelerate preparations for Prime Minister Naoto Kan's planned visit to the United States later this year, aimed at enhancing cooperation in the areas of security, the economy, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges to deepen the bilateral alliance, Japanese officials said.
The senior U.S. official is visiting Japan following his trip to South Korea. He will also hold consultations with Chinese officials in Beijing on Friday on the situation in the Korean Peninsula.
On Wednesday, South Korea proposed military and denuclearization talks with the North as the two countries moved to ease tensions following Pyongyang's deadly artillery attack on a South Korean border island and the revelation of its uranium enrichment program in November.
Steinberg told reporters in Tokyo that the North should show it recognizes that its provocations last year including the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island that killed four South Koreans and the sinking of a South Korean warship, which claimed the lives of 46 sailors, had created ''a very dangerous situation.''
The sinking of the corvette Cheonan in March last year has been blamed on North Korea, but the country has strongly denied involvement in the incident.
