S. Korea, U.S. warn N. Korea not to raise tensions

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- Top South Korean and U.S. diplomats on Friday urged
North Korea to stop provocative acts and resume inter-Korean dialogue
immediately, stressing the communist nation's possession of atomic weapons can
never be tolerated.

In their one-hour talks here, Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and his counterpart
Hillary Clinton also agreed to push for the "complete and verifiable"
dismantlement of the North's nuclear program through the six-way talks also
involving China, Russia, and Japan, according to Yu's ministry.
"The ministers shared the perception that North Korea should stop its recent
provocative acts and respond to South Korean offers for dialogue without
attaching any conditions," the ministry said in a press release on the results of
their "useful and in-depth discussions."
Adding to tensions fueled by its reported ballistic missile launch preparations,
the North's military said in its latest verbal threats Thursday that an armed
clash with the South could break out at any time.
"The two sides have decided to closely cooperate on the related situation," the
ministry said. "In addition, Minister Yu and Secretary Clinton shared the opinion
that it is desirable for the leaders of the two nations to hold a summit at an
early date to develop the alliance and strengthen cooperation on major global
issues."
The secretary is expected to go into details on the summit issue when she meets
President Lee Myung-bak later in the day.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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