S. Korea cautious about 'Plan B' in efforts to denuclearize N. Korea

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is unlikely to rejoin the six-way talks on
its nuclear program for the time being, but it is too early to talk about a "Plan
B," South Korean officials said Friday, countering growing skepticism about the
future of the troubled framework.

"Nobody thinks that North Korea will return to the six-way talks anytime soon,
given its recent statements and behavior," a foreign ministry official handling
the nuclear issue said. "But we and other related nations share the understanding
on the need to resume the talks. It is premature to talk about an alternative."
He added a planned trip by U.S. envoy Stephen Bosworth to South Korea and other
six-party member nations is in line with such efforts. Bosworth is expected to
begin a regional tour next week that will also take him to China, Japan, and
Russia.
The official also said China, which chairs the six-way talks, may take an
initiative again to jump-start the denuclearization process.
"We have not been informed by China so far of any concrete move such as sending
an envoy to North Korea. But there is a possibility that China will begin its own
efforts without giving formal notice to South Korea or other nations," he added.
Doubts are growing over the future of the six-way forum as North Korea announced
that it will quit the talks and abandon all related agreements in protest to the
U.N.'s punishment of its April 5 rocket launch.
Earlier this week, the North threatened to conduct a second nuclear test, launch
more ballistic missiles, and build a light-water reactor unless the U.N.
apologizes for its action -- a demand widely viewed as unrealistic.
In one of the clearest indications of Washington's frustration over Pyongyang's
recent sabre-rattling, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a congressional
meeting, "We have absolutely no interest and no willingness on the part of this
administration to give them any economic aid at all."
She added it seems "implausible, if not impossible" that North Korea will return
to the six-way talks.
Her comments spawned media speculation that the Obama administration may be
seeking a Plan B. Clinton's aides refused to predict what will happen.
"Right now, the focus has been on the six-party framework. I can't tell you what
the future is going to hold if the North should not come back to the table,"
State Department spokesman Robert Wood said in a press briefing. "We will use
every tool in our diplomatic arsenal to try to achieve that objective. But it
would be premature for me to state, you know, what a Plan B might be right now."
lcd@yna.co.kr
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