Hill regrets failure to denuclearize N. Korea

SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- Christopher Hill, U.S. assistant secretary of state
for East Asia and Pacific affairs, said Sunday he regrets having failed to attain
the denuclearization of North Korea during his stint as the chief U.S. nuclear
negotiator over the past four years.
Hill made the remark after arriving at Incheon International Airport, west of
Seoul, in what appeared to be his farewell trip to South Korea in his capacity as
a chief nuclear negotiator. Hill's visit also came ahead of his boss Hillary
Clinton's visit to Seoul this week.
Clinton, the U.S. secretary of state, is due in Seoul on Thursday as part of her
four-nation Asia tour, with her two-day stay expected to focus on ways to push
North Korean denuclearization talks forward.
Hill, reportedly tapped as the new U.S. ambassador to Iraq, is expected to meet
with South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator, Kim Sook, on Clinton's visit and
regional issues, as well as attend a farewell dinner to be hosted by U.S.
ambassador to Seoul Kathleen Stephens later Sunday, officials said.
Arriving at the airport from Beijing, Hill described the last four years as
"interesting," and suggested it's now time to hand over his role to someone else.
The Barack Obama administration has yet to officially announce Hill's successor.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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