Seoul wants complete denuclearization of N. Korea: PM

SEOUL, Feb. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said Monday
that Seoul wants a complete denuclearization of North Korea, and that the nations
involved in the process do not approve of the country's possession of nuclear
power.
"Complete abandonment," Han said during an interpellation session in parliament
when asked by lawmakers what Seoul's ultimate goal is in the six-party framework
on North Korea's nuclear program.
Han also stressed that excluding North Korea, the countries in the six-party
talks do not approve of North Korea's possession of nuclear capability. The
six-party talks involve the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan.
The prime minister also underscored that the communist state is not recognized as
a nuclear power by the United Nation's Security Council.
North Korea conducted its first atomic test in October 2006. The Koreas remain in
a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce rather
than a peace treaty.
On the free trade agreement with the United States, Han said that Seoul has no
intention to renegotiate the deal.
"We have not received (any demand from Washington) for a renegotiation, and have
no plan to respond to the demand if there ever is one," Han said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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