(LEAD) N. Korea says open to multilateral talks

(ATTN: UPDATES lead through 7th para, expected Kim Jong-il-Wen meeting, details)
SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korea blamed the United States for a dispute over
the North's nuclear drive and told the visiting Chinese premier it is open to
"bilateral and multilateral dialogues" to resolve the issue, Pyongyang's media
said Monday.

North Korean Premier Kim Yong-il made the remarks a day earlier in talks with his
Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, who arrived in Pyongyang for a three-day visit,
said the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"The DPRK (North Korea) side pointed out that the United States is to blame for
the occurrence of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula," Kim said. Pyongyang
customarily argues the U.S. initiated the nuclear dispute by providing a nuclear
umbrella over South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.
But he "expressed the will to realize the denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula, at the behest of (the country's founder) President Kim Il-sung,
through bilateral and multilateral dialogue," the KCNA said.
The remarks largely echo a promise made in September by the country's top leader,
Kim Jong-il, that the North will support "bilateral or multilateral talks" to
resolve the nuclear stalemate. Kim Jong-il's expected meeting with the Chinese
premier later in the day is drawing keen attention over whether he will present a
more forward approach to the stalled negotiations.
The North's media did not report on Wen's remarks, which stressed
denuclearization. Pyongyang's commitment to the process "is in the interest of
all the parties concerned, including the DPRK," and "consultation is the only way
to solve the peninsula's nuclear issue," Wen was quoted as saying by China's
Xinhua News Agency.
Wen was greeted by Kim Jong-il at Sunan Airport in a rare move as such protocol
is usually reserved for heads of state. The visit was officially described as a
celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the allies,
but hopes are high it may also help revive the nuclear talks. The six-party talks
involve the Koreas, the U.S., Japan and Russia as well as host China.
Pyongyang quit the talks in April to protest U.N. sanctions over its long-range
rocket test, which was seen by Western powers as a test of its ballistic missile
technology.
North Korea has been insisting on one-on-one talks with the U.S. over its nuclear
program. Washington, which had demanded the North first return to the six-party
talks, is now considering direct talks to push negotiations forward.
U.S. special envoy on North Korea Stephen Bosworth is expected to decide whether
to visit North Korea for bilateral talks after analyzing the results of Wen's
trip.
The two premiers "reaffirmed that the traditional DPRK-China friendship
personally provided by leaders of the elder generation of the two countries can
never change despite the change of situation and the replacement of the older
generation with a new one."
China fought on the North's side in the Korean War against South Korea and the
U.S.-led United Nations forces. The war ended in an armistice, leaving the two
Koreas technically at war.
Establishment of a permanent peace regime to replace the fragile armistice is one
of the benefits stipulated in a six-party deal, which also calls for massive
economic aid and diplomatic recognition of the North by Washington and Tokyo in
exchange for the North's denuclearization.
After the "open-hearted" talks, the two premiers signed a series of accords on
economic assistance, cooperation in software industry, tourism and education and
wildlife protection, reports said.
They also agreed "on the construction of a new bridge over the Amnok River,"
which borders the two neighbors.
Wen, meanwhile, "expressed thanks to the DPRK side for having extended support to
China over issues related to the core interests of China, including the issues of
Taiwan and Tibet."
hdh@yna.co.kr
hkim@yna.co.kr
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