S. Korean, U.S. nuke envoys meet to revive 6-party talks: State Dept.

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 (Yonhap) -- The chief nuclear envoys of South Korea and the
U.S. have discussed ways to restart the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear
programs, stalled over its recent nuclear and missile tests, the State Department
said Thursday.

Ambassador Wi Sung-lac, South Korea's representative to the six-party talks, met
with his U.S. counterpart, Sung Kim, on the margins of a seminar hosted by the
East-West Center, Hawaii, Wednesday, spokesman Robert Wood said in a daily news
briefing.
The meeting was to follow up on discussions South Korean Foreign Minister Yu
Myung-hwan had with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Phuket, Thailand,
last month on the sidelines of the annual ASEAN Regional Forum.
At that time, Clinton promised 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," although she warned of
continued sanctions against the North unless it returns to the six-party talks.
"The United States and the Republic of Korea held productive and constructive
consultations on August 4 and 5 in Hawaii to follow up on North Korea-related
issues discussed by Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Yu on the margins of
the ASEAN Regional Forum foreign ministers' meeting," Wood said.
Wi also met with Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special representative for North Korea
policy, according to the spokesman.
"He (Bosworth) did not participate in those consultations that Ambassador Sung
Kim participated in," Wood said. "But he did have an opportunity to meet with
Ambassador Wi on the margins of the meetings."
"These meetings were part of our ongoing regular periodic consultations with
officials from the Republic of Korea," he said. "These consultations reflected
close cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Korea."
While in the Thai resort island, Bosworth talked about a "comprehensive package,"
a possible breakaway from a six-party deal on the North's denuclearization that
calls for action for action in the process of nuclear dismantlement by the
reclusive communist state.
The nuclear envoys' meeting coincided with a surprise visit to Pyongyang by
former U.S. President Bill Clinton Tuesday that led to the release the following
day of two American journalists captive there since March for illegally entering
the North from the Chinese border on a reporting tour.
President Barack Obama and other U.S. officials downplayed the trip as a "private
mission," which they said does not affect the Obama administration's policy of
continuing to impose sanctions on the North unless Pyongyang returns to the
multilateral nuclear talks.
Nonetheless, some experts say the rare encounter should serve as a catalyst for a
breakthrough in the deadlocked negotiations on the North's nuclear arms and
missiles.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said earlier in the day that scheduling is
under way for a meeting between Obama and Bill Clinton, possibly in a few days'
time, noting the former president has already briefed one of Obama's key security
advisers on his Pyongyang trip.
"Obviously, it's our desire to get whatever impressions President Clinton has,"
Gibbs said.
Obama also said Wednesday, "I suspect that President Clinton will have some
interesting observations from his trip, and I will let him provide those to me."
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il met with Clinton for more than three hours
Tuesday, including a dinner, easing speculation in the media about his failing
health.
The 67-year-old leader, who apparently suffered a stroke and contracted
pancreatic cancer last summer, is said to be trying to help his third and
youngest son Jong-un, 26, consolidate power with recent nuclear and missile tests
under his military-first policy.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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