S. Korean, Japanese nuclear envoys to discuss N. Korean missile launch

SEOUL, March 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top nuclear envoy will hold talks with his Japanese counterpart this week to discuss North Korea's plan to launch a rocket, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

Wi Sung-lac, who left for Japan earlier in the day, will hold talks with Akitake
Saiki on Monday to coordinate policies on the rocket launch, which Pyongyang
insists is aimed at sending a communications satellite into orbit. Intelligence
officials allege the launch is a cover for a ballistic missile test.
The two officials will explore ways to dissuade the North from launching the
rocket and discuss what kind of steps will be taken if the communist country goes
ahead with its plan. They will also exchange views on how best to restart the
stalled six-nation talks on North Korea's denuclearization, which include two
Koreas, the United States, Japan, China, and Russia.
Wi is also expected to meet with Japan's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mitoji
Yabunaka, and Deputy Minister Keninchiro Sasae on Tuesday before returning to
Seoul.
Without going into detail, officials in Seoul said Wi will ask Tokyo to take a
firm stance on implementing sanctions if Pyongyang goes ahead with the launch.
Japan is currently is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security
Council, which is expected to take the lead in implementing any actions if
Pyongyang goes ahead with the launch. The action would violate security council
resolution 1718.
Sources said that Wi's main agenda will be to devise a plan to get North Korea to
halt its launch preparations.
Pyongyang notified both the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and
the International Maritime Organization with details on the launch, including the
projected coordinates, saying it intends to fire the rocket between April 4-8.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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