ID :
79860
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 15:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/79860
The shortlink copeid
LEAD) Seoul not against U.S.-N.K. dialogue if aimed at resuming six-party talks:
((ATTN: UPDATES with details of minister, nuke envoy's U.S. visit at bottom)
By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- Seoul would not object to a direct meeting between
the United States and North Korea if, as Washington says, it aims to restart
stalled multilateral dialogue on denuclearizing the North, a government
spokesperson said Monday.
The U.S. announced last week that it will soon undertake bilateral negotiations
with North Korea to persuade it to return to the suspended six-party talks, which
Pyongyang boycotted, claiming the forum was being used to infringe upon its
sovereign right to develop nuclear and space technology.
Pyongyang had demanded that Washington deal with the communist regime bilaterally
in order to secure a breakthrough, while Washington insisted on sticking to the
six-party process that also involves South Korea, China, Japan and Russia.
Details of the upcoming meeting have yet to be decided.
"We are not against bilateral talks between the U.S. and North Korea, if they do
not replace the six-party talks and are intended to expedite the six-party
process aimed at denuclearizing North Korea," Moon Tae-young, spokesperson with
Seoul's foreign ministry, said at a press briefing.
Moon underlined the presence of a "joint recognition" between Seoul and
Washington on the need to resume the six-party talks.
The spokesperson also said the two countries hold a consensus that U.N. sanctions
imposed on North Korea for its nuclear tests and military provocations should be
maintained while keeping the door open for dialogue.
On inter-Korean dialogue, Moon said South Korea does not yet have any plans to
hold direct talks with the North during the U.N. General Assembly scheduled for
next week in New York.
Wi Sung-lac, Seoul's envoy to the six-party talks, will visit the U.S. over the
weekend, accompanying Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan to the U.N. General
Assembly.
Wi's schedule has not been fixed, but he is largely expected to meet with senior
U.S. officials to consult over the expected Pyongyang-Washington bilateral
meeting.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- Seoul would not object to a direct meeting between
the United States and North Korea if, as Washington says, it aims to restart
stalled multilateral dialogue on denuclearizing the North, a government
spokesperson said Monday.
The U.S. announced last week that it will soon undertake bilateral negotiations
with North Korea to persuade it to return to the suspended six-party talks, which
Pyongyang boycotted, claiming the forum was being used to infringe upon its
sovereign right to develop nuclear and space technology.
Pyongyang had demanded that Washington deal with the communist regime bilaterally
in order to secure a breakthrough, while Washington insisted on sticking to the
six-party process that also involves South Korea, China, Japan and Russia.
Details of the upcoming meeting have yet to be decided.
"We are not against bilateral talks between the U.S. and North Korea, if they do
not replace the six-party talks and are intended to expedite the six-party
process aimed at denuclearizing North Korea," Moon Tae-young, spokesperson with
Seoul's foreign ministry, said at a press briefing.
Moon underlined the presence of a "joint recognition" between Seoul and
Washington on the need to resume the six-party talks.
The spokesperson also said the two countries hold a consensus that U.N. sanctions
imposed on North Korea for its nuclear tests and military provocations should be
maintained while keeping the door open for dialogue.
On inter-Korean dialogue, Moon said South Korea does not yet have any plans to
hold direct talks with the North during the U.N. General Assembly scheduled for
next week in New York.
Wi Sung-lac, Seoul's envoy to the six-party talks, will visit the U.S. over the
weekend, accompanying Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan to the U.N. General
Assembly.
Wi's schedule has not been fixed, but he is largely expected to meet with senior
U.S. officials to consult over the expected Pyongyang-Washington bilateral
meeting.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
