U.S. pledges package of incentives in return for N. Korea's denuclearization

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- The United States Tuesday reiterated that it
will provide a package of incentives to North Korea if North Korea takes
irreversible steps toward its denuclearization.

"We've been very clear that if North Korea takes irreversible steps leading to
complete denuclearization and thereby upholds its commitments made in the joint
statement of 2005, that we and our partners would be prepared to reciprocate in a
comprehensive and coordinated manner, that we'd prepare to discuss some kind of
package of steps that we could take," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said.
Kelly was discussing the grand bargain South Korean President Lee Myung-bak
proposed Monday to pledge massive economic assistance to North Korea in return
for the North's nuclear dismantlement.
"Regarding President Lee's speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, I think
it's really not for me to comment on the particulars, because this is his policy,
these were his remarks," Kelly said.
The spokesman said that he was "not sure it is a change of approach," adding, "We
all agree that the final goal is the complete denuclearization, and that's what
we're focused on. And we're willing to look at other approaches if the North
Koreans agree to uphold their commitment that they've already made."
Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs,
speaking Monday to reporters in New York, was also cautious about Lee's proposal.
"I would imagine what the president was underscoring was that if North Korea
makes a serious commitment, a responsible commitment to all the principles that
they've underscored in 2005 and 2007, then the international community, not just
the United States, but South Korea, Japan and others, would be prepared to put
together a package of things," he said.
The six-party deals signed in 2005 and 2007 call for hefty economic aid,
diplomatic recognition and establishment of a permanent peace regime on the
Korean Peninsula to replace the fragile armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean
War.
"The problem is we're at the very, very early stages of this," Campbell said.
"And what we're trying to get is the North Koreans to make small, but fundamental
steps so that we can at least take some early actions going forth."
The U.S. official was apparently stressing the need to approach the North Korean
nuclear issue on a step-by-step basis rather than the provision of massive
incentives in return for the North's dismantlement of nuclear programs all at
once.
Campbell hinted Monday at imminent one-on-one contact with North Korea to
persuade it to rejoin the six-nation talks on ending its nuclear weapons program.
"There is a recognition that should the United States in the near future decide
to have some bilateral interactions with North Korea, they are as part of a
process to get back to a six-party framework," he said. "No final decision has
been taken at this juncture about the next steps and any prospective diplomacy
with North Korea."
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il extended an invitation to Stephen Bosworth, U.S.
special representative for North Korea policy, when former President Bill Clinton
visited Pyongyang early last month to win the release of two American journalists
held for illegal entry.
In an apparent policy shift, Kim said last week that North Korea will welcome
both bilateral and multilateral talks to resolve the standoff over its nuclear
programs.
The reclusive North Korean leader made the remarks when he met with a senior
Chinese official, Dai Bingguo. North Korea has for months threatened to abandon
the six-party talks permanently due to international sanctions for its nuclear
and missile tests.
U.S. officials have said a decision on Bosworth's possible trip to Pyongyang will
be made after U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
meet in New York with their counterparts from the other members of the six-party
talks.
Some analysts believe Bosworth may visit Pyongyang in late October or early
November, after Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao attends a ceremony in Pyongyang
in early October to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic ties between the two communist allies.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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