ID :
72382
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 16:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/72382
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea 'not opposed' to N. Korea-U.S. dialogue: ministry
(ATTN: UPDATES with S. Korea's implementation of U.N. sanctions in last 6 paras)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Monday it is not opposed to any form
of dialogue between North Korea and the United States, saying the Obama
administration has promised to pursue it while maintaining close consultations
with Seoul.
North Korea has been holding out hope for bilateral talks with the U.S., while
making clear its rejection of the six-way disarmament talks also involving South
Korea, China, Russia, and Japan.
"There is a specific and reserved form of dialogue that can address the current
situation," the North's foreign ministry said in a statement by an unidentified
spokesperson.
It was one of the most clear signals of Pyongyang's desire for talks with
Washington in recent months, which have marked by a series of provocations by the
defiant regime including its second nuclear test on May 25.
In New York, the North's ambassador to the U.N., Sin Son-ho, called a rare
interview with foreign media over the weekend and said, "We are not against
dialogue. We are not against any negotiation on issues of common concern."
He reaffirmed that his country will never return to the six-way talks, however.
South Korea urged North Korea to rejoin the Beijing-based negotiations, which
have been stalled for half a year.
"We hope that North Korea will return to the six-way talks at an early date,"
Seoul's foreign ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said at a press briefing. "We
are not opposed to dialogue between North Korea and the U.S."
Moon added that the U.S. has assured that it will seek talks with the North, if
needed, in close consultation with the South.
Meanwhile, South Korea was to submit a report on its measures against North Korea
to a U.N. Security Council sanctions committee later Monday, in time to meet the
deadline.
U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874, adopted on June 12 after the North's
nuclear test, calls upon all member states to report to the council "within 45
days concrete measures they have taken" to implement the resolution.
"The government has established a consultation system of related ministries for
the effective implementation of Resolution 1874," Moon said.
In a related move, the finance ministry announced Monday that it will enforce
financial sanctions by the U.N. council on North Korean officials and
organizations accused of being involved in Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic
missile programs.
Earlier this month, the council imposed a travel ban and foreign asset freeze on
five North Korean officials and asset freezes on five more entities.
The ministry said that any monetary transactions with the North Korean officials
or organizations will require a permit from the head of South Korea's central
bank.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Monday it is not opposed to any form
of dialogue between North Korea and the United States, saying the Obama
administration has promised to pursue it while maintaining close consultations
with Seoul.
North Korea has been holding out hope for bilateral talks with the U.S., while
making clear its rejection of the six-way disarmament talks also involving South
Korea, China, Russia, and Japan.
"There is a specific and reserved form of dialogue that can address the current
situation," the North's foreign ministry said in a statement by an unidentified
spokesperson.
It was one of the most clear signals of Pyongyang's desire for talks with
Washington in recent months, which have marked by a series of provocations by the
defiant regime including its second nuclear test on May 25.
In New York, the North's ambassador to the U.N., Sin Son-ho, called a rare
interview with foreign media over the weekend and said, "We are not against
dialogue. We are not against any negotiation on issues of common concern."
He reaffirmed that his country will never return to the six-way talks, however.
South Korea urged North Korea to rejoin the Beijing-based negotiations, which
have been stalled for half a year.
"We hope that North Korea will return to the six-way talks at an early date,"
Seoul's foreign ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said at a press briefing. "We
are not opposed to dialogue between North Korea and the U.S."
Moon added that the U.S. has assured that it will seek talks with the North, if
needed, in close consultation with the South.
Meanwhile, South Korea was to submit a report on its measures against North Korea
to a U.N. Security Council sanctions committee later Monday, in time to meet the
deadline.
U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874, adopted on June 12 after the North's
nuclear test, calls upon all member states to report to the council "within 45
days concrete measures they have taken" to implement the resolution.
"The government has established a consultation system of related ministries for
the effective implementation of Resolution 1874," Moon said.
In a related move, the finance ministry announced Monday that it will enforce
financial sanctions by the U.N. council on North Korean officials and
organizations accused of being involved in Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic
missile programs.
Earlier this month, the council imposed a travel ban and foreign asset freeze on
five North Korean officials and asset freezes on five more entities.
The ministry said that any monetary transactions with the North Korean officials
or organizations will require a permit from the head of South Korea's central
bank.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
