ID :
76605
Sun, 08/23/2009 - 20:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/76605
The shortlink copeid
Goldberg guarded on N. Korea after arrival in Seoul
By Lee Chi-dong
YEONGJONG ISLAND, South Korea, Aug. 23 (Yonhap) -- A top U.S. diplomat in charge
of implementing recent U.N. sanctions on North Korea arrived in South Korea on
Saturday but refrained from touching on sensitive topics amid signs of a thaw in
frosty inter-Korean ties.
Philip Goldberg, the U.S. coordinator for the implementation of U.N. Security
Council Resolution 1874 adopted after the North's nuclear test in May, offered
his condolences over the death of former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung,
whose funeral was held in Seoul shortly before his arrival.
"All I would like to say today is that we send our deepest condolences over the
death of former president Kim and send those condolences to his family and all
the South Korean people," he said at Incheon International Airport, west of
Seoul, after arriving from Bangkok.
Goldberg added he is on an "official trip to talk with the Korean government."
Brushing off a barrage of questions on the latest developments involving North
Korea, he said, "Not today. I don't think it is appropriate today," adding he
will have a chance to talk after meeting with South Korean government officials
on Monday.
Goldberg is scheduled to meet with South Korea's top nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac
and other officials at the foreign and finance ministries apparently to discuss a
joint strategy to carry out the U.N.-imposed sanctions on Pyongyang.
His two-day trip here, part of a regional swing, comes as ties between the two
Koreas are showing signs of improving after a year and a half of confrontation.
A high-powered North Korean delegation met with President Lee Myung-bak at his
office earlier Sunday and relayed a message from the North's leader, Kim Jong-il,
on inter-Korean economic cooperation, according to Lee's aides.
Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, is also
visiting Seoul as a member of the U.S. delegation to the funeral of the late
South Korean leader.
Goldberg said he may meet Bosworth in Seoul before flying to Tokyo on Monday.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
YEONGJONG ISLAND, South Korea, Aug. 23 (Yonhap) -- A top U.S. diplomat in charge
of implementing recent U.N. sanctions on North Korea arrived in South Korea on
Saturday but refrained from touching on sensitive topics amid signs of a thaw in
frosty inter-Korean ties.
Philip Goldberg, the U.S. coordinator for the implementation of U.N. Security
Council Resolution 1874 adopted after the North's nuclear test in May, offered
his condolences over the death of former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung,
whose funeral was held in Seoul shortly before his arrival.
"All I would like to say today is that we send our deepest condolences over the
death of former president Kim and send those condolences to his family and all
the South Korean people," he said at Incheon International Airport, west of
Seoul, after arriving from Bangkok.
Goldberg added he is on an "official trip to talk with the Korean government."
Brushing off a barrage of questions on the latest developments involving North
Korea, he said, "Not today. I don't think it is appropriate today," adding he
will have a chance to talk after meeting with South Korean government officials
on Monday.
Goldberg is scheduled to meet with South Korea's top nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac
and other officials at the foreign and finance ministries apparently to discuss a
joint strategy to carry out the U.N.-imposed sanctions on Pyongyang.
His two-day trip here, part of a regional swing, comes as ties between the two
Koreas are showing signs of improving after a year and a half of confrontation.
A high-powered North Korean delegation met with President Lee Myung-bak at his
office earlier Sunday and relayed a message from the North's leader, Kim Jong-il,
on inter-Korean economic cooperation, according to Lee's aides.
Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, is also
visiting Seoul as a member of the U.S. delegation to the funeral of the late
South Korean leader.
Goldberg said he may meet Bosworth in Seoul before flying to Tokyo on Monday.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
