Bosworth says he has 'no illusions' about new mission

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- The new U.S. special envoy on North Korea said Monday he has no "illusions" about his mission of getting the communist nation to denuclearize, saying it is a daunting task.

"I have no illusions about what I have agreed to do. It is a very difficult
mandate...very difficult sort of task," Bosworth told South Korean Foreign
Minister Yu Myung-hwan in the opening of their meeting at the minister's official
residence in central Seoul.
The envoy arrived in South Korea on Saturday for a four-day stay, the last stop
in an Asian tour that also took him to Beijing and Tokyo.
Bosworth, a former U.S. ambassador to Seoul, vowed joint efforts with the South
in dealing with the North Korean issue.
"I am very committed to working in very close harmony with your government and
your team. I think if we all work together, we can make some progress," he said.
In response, Yu said he was also confident that progress will be made if Seoul
and Washington join hands.
Yu's ministry has yet to disclose the results of the meeting, of which only the
first five minutes were open to the media.
Earlier in the day, Bosworth was briefed on the North Korean military by Gen.
Walter Sharp, the commander of the 28,500 U.S. soldiers stationed here. He also
met separately with South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee.
Bosworth plans to pay a courtesy call on President Lee Myung-bak, followed by
meetings with Unification Minister Hyun In-taek and Seoul's chief nuclear
negotiator Wi Sung-lac.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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