ID :
47983
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 19:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/47983
The shortlink copeid
Bosworth to Lead U.S. Delegation to Future Six-way Talks
WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special representative for North Korea, will lead the U.S. delegation at future six-party talks on ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions, the State Department said on Feb. 23.
The creating of a special post on North Korea reflects a sharp departure from the
Bush administration, under which the multilateral negotiations were led by
assistant secretary of state Christopher Hill.
"Ambassador Bosworth is the lead for the United States," deputy spokesman Gordon
Duguid said, quelling speculation that Sung Kim, special envoy for the six-party
talks, would lead the U.S. delegation at future rounds that had arisen because
Bosworth intends to keep his job as a college dean in Massachusetts.
In announcing the appointment of Bosworth last week, the State Department said
Bosworth will work concurrently as the special representative "handling North
Korea issues, reporting to the secretary of state, as well as to the president."
Bosworth, the department said, will "coordinate the overall U.S. government
effort" in the North Korean issues, while Sung Kim will "handle the day-to-day
contacts and discussions with our six-party colleagues."
Despite the assertion by the State Department that the special representative is
"a full-time position" and that his job "will not be any diminution of the
responsibilities that previous special representatives have had," doubts have
lingered over Bosworth's status due mainly to his position as dean of the
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
Some say that Bosworth's somewhat awkward status derives from a poor prognosis
for the six-party talks, last held in December. Critics say almost all options
have been exhausted with regard to North Korea's nuclear program since
negotiations began in the early 1990s.
Reports said that Wendy Sherman, a former North Korea policy coordinator under
the Clinton administration, rejected Obama's offer to take the post.
Hill, who doubled as Washington's chief nuclear negotiator, reportedly did not
have enough time to carry out his responsibilities for the Asia and Pacific
region because of the heavy workload on the North Korean nuclear issue.
Another State Department official said that Bosworth has not yet established his
office at the State Department, adding, "It will take a little while."
Officials and experts said that he will start work only after Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton appoints a new assistant secretary of state, probably Kurt
Campbell, who is currently chief executive officer of the Center for a New
American Security (CNAS), with whom Bosworth will coordinate policy on North
Korea.
Yong-hi, who died of breast cancer at the age of 51 in 2004.
(END)
The creating of a special post on North Korea reflects a sharp departure from the
Bush administration, under which the multilateral negotiations were led by
assistant secretary of state Christopher Hill.
"Ambassador Bosworth is the lead for the United States," deputy spokesman Gordon
Duguid said, quelling speculation that Sung Kim, special envoy for the six-party
talks, would lead the U.S. delegation at future rounds that had arisen because
Bosworth intends to keep his job as a college dean in Massachusetts.
In announcing the appointment of Bosworth last week, the State Department said
Bosworth will work concurrently as the special representative "handling North
Korea issues, reporting to the secretary of state, as well as to the president."
Bosworth, the department said, will "coordinate the overall U.S. government
effort" in the North Korean issues, while Sung Kim will "handle the day-to-day
contacts and discussions with our six-party colleagues."
Despite the assertion by the State Department that the special representative is
"a full-time position" and that his job "will not be any diminution of the
responsibilities that previous special representatives have had," doubts have
lingered over Bosworth's status due mainly to his position as dean of the
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
Some say that Bosworth's somewhat awkward status derives from a poor prognosis
for the six-party talks, last held in December. Critics say almost all options
have been exhausted with regard to North Korea's nuclear program since
negotiations began in the early 1990s.
Reports said that Wendy Sherman, a former North Korea policy coordinator under
the Clinton administration, rejected Obama's offer to take the post.
Hill, who doubled as Washington's chief nuclear negotiator, reportedly did not
have enough time to carry out his responsibilities for the Asia and Pacific
region because of the heavy workload on the North Korean nuclear issue.
Another State Department official said that Bosworth has not yet established his
office at the State Department, adding, "It will take a little while."
Officials and experts said that he will start work only after Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton appoints a new assistant secretary of state, probably Kurt
Campbell, who is currently chief executive officer of the Center for a New
American Security (CNAS), with whom Bosworth will coordinate policy on North
Korea.
Yong-hi, who died of breast cancer at the age of 51 in 2004.
(END)
