U.S., China call on N. Korea to return to 6-way talks

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, July 28 (Yonhap) -- The United States and China issued a joint appeal
Tuesday for North Korea to return to the six-party talks on ending Pyongyang's
nuclear ambitions, the U.S. State Department said.

In the bilateral strategic dialogue held here, high-ranking officials of the two
nations also reaffirmed their pledge to implement U.N. Security Council sanctions
against North Korea for its recent nuclear and missile tests, spokesman Ian Kelly
said at a daily news briefing.
"The U.S. and China reiterated their agreement on the need for implementation of
U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874 and the need for North Korea to return to
the six-party talks," Kelly said regarding the two-day U.S.-China Strategic and
Economic Dialogue, set to end later Tuesday.
Representing the United States in the dialogue are Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. Their Chinese counterparts are
State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Vice Premier Wang Qishan.
"The issue of denuclearization and our common interests in obtaining that state
was covered in the discussions and also in Secretary Clinton's meeting with State
Councilor Dai," Kelly said.
In the opening session of the dialogue, U.S. President Barack Obama Monday sought
China's help in denuclearizing North Korea.
"Neither America nor China has an interest in a terrorist acquiring a bomb, or a
nuclear arms race breaking out in East Asia," Obama said. "That is why we must
continue our collaboration to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula, and make it clear to North Korea that the path to security and respect
can be traveled if they meet their obligations."
North Korea has said it is boycotting the six-party talks in anger over the U.N.
sanctions for its recent nuclear and missile tests, but expressed the hope for a
bilateral dialogue with Washington. The talks involve the two Koreas, the U.S.,
China, Japan and Russia.
The North's Foreign Ministry Monday issued a statement to call for "a specific
and reserved form of dialogue that can address the current situation," which is
widely interpreted as meaning bilateral talks between Pyongyang and Washington.
Kelly rebuffed the ministry's proposal Monday, saying, "Our long-standing policy
is that we are open to a bilateral dialogue, but only in the context of the
six-party talks, only in a multilateral context."
U.S.-China cooperation in dealing with North Korea is a major goal of the two-day
conference.
China, Pyongyang's staunchest communist ally, is considered key to the
implementation of any sanctions on North Korea, which relies heavily on its
communist neighbor for energy, food and other items.
Beijing previously had been lukewarm to implementing sanctions under U.N.
resolutions against North Korea for fear of destabilizing the country, which
could prompt a flood of refugees and undermine regional security at a time when
China is trying to emerge as a major economic power.
Clinton Monday expressed satisfaction with China's cooperation in dealing with
North Korea.
"Already we have cooperated very closely together," she said. "And we are
grateful to the Chinese government and their leadership in establishing the
six-party talks and its close cooperation with us in response to the North Korean
missile launches."
Clinton has recently urged the North to return to the six-party talks and pledged
not to accept "half measures" nor to reward provocations, while warning North
Korea "will face international isolation and the unrelenting pressure of global
sanctions" until it agrees to denuclearization.
North Korea, however, blames the standoff on Washington's "hostile policy,"
dismissing as "nonsense" Clinton's statement that "full normalization of
relations, a permanent peace regime, and significant energy and economic
assistance are all possible in the context of full and verifiable
denuclearization."
hdh@yna.co.kr
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