New Mexico Gov. calls on Obama to begin talks to N. Korea

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson Thursday called
on the Barack Obama administration to begin a dialogue with North Korea for its
denuclearization.

"My point here is this is the time to negotiate with them, in a tough way,
possibly bilaterally, face-to-face, but within the six-party talks, which is
consistent with our policy," Richardson, former U.N. ambassador, told the Fox
News Channel. "I think they were just sending a signal. And the signal is the
atmosphere for talks is a lot better. They felt the Clinton visit, to get the two
Americans out, went well."
Richardson, once nominated by Obama as commerce secretary, made the remarks after
meeting with two North Korean diplomats in Santa Fe Wednesday. After the meeting,
he said the North Koreans wanted to "resume a dialogue" and that he will convey
that to the Obama administration.
The governor, who successfully negotiated the release of two American citizens
held in North Korea in the 1990s, was discussing the recent gestures by North
Korea to improve ties with South Korea and the U.S. after escalating tensions in
the Korean Peninsula with nuclear and missile tests in recent months.
"They've been recently sending signals, the North Koreans, like allowing a
delegation of North Koreans to pay their respects to the South Korean president
who just passed away," he said. "They released a South Korean detainee from North
Korea. You know, there's just a lot of positive steps that are taking place."
He said the visit to Pyongyang by former President Bill Clinton to win the
release of the two American journalists paved the way for rapprochement between
Washington and Pyongyang. Clinton met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il for
three hours and briefed Obama Tuesday amid reports that Kim proposed a bilateral
dialogue.
"I think the Obama administration, by sending President Clinton, not a member of
the government, to get them out, worked," Richardson said. "And it has improved
the atmosphere for talks and my point is, let's take advantage of it."
Washington has dismissed Pyongyang's call for bilateral talks, saying a two-way
dialogue can be conducted only within the context of the six-party talks that
also involve the South Korea, China, Japan and Russia.
"So now we need a new path, a new dialogue that involves these same tough
standards, but getting them to curb their nuclear ambitions," he said. "Kim
Jong-il, you know, he looks like he's turning over power to one of his sons, so
possibly there is the potential for a change. We don't know that, but my point is
it's best to talk to them and not to isolate them. Isolating them has not
helped."
Analysts said that now is the time for Kim Jong-il to reach out to the outside
world as he has shown all the capabilities of the North with its recent nuclear
and missile tests, apparently to help consolidate his power for a smooth
transition to his third and youngest son Jong-un, 26.
U.S. officials who debriefed Clinton said that Kim Jong-il still is in firm
control of the North despite his weakening health after apparently suffering a
stroke last summer.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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