U.S., allies prepare for possible succession crisis, other contingencies in N. Korea

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, June 3 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said
Wednesday that his country and allies are working together to deal with any
contingencies in North Korea including the post-Kim Jong-il era.
"What we focus on is how we can continue to work together to make sure that no
matter what happens in North Korea, we have a common approach and we have shared
assessments and common strategy," he told reporters after talks with South
Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kwon Jong-rak here.
The U.S. official was responding to a question on whether they discussed reports
that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has appointed his third and youngest son
Jong-un as his successor.
"We discussed the need to work together very closely in the event of any
contingencies," he said. "We agreed that we need to work closely to deal with any
future actions by North Korea to make clear that now is the time for North Korea,
rather than continuing to take more dangerous and provocative actions, to
recognize that the better course is to reengage and to get back on the path of
negotiations towards the denuclearization."
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)