Lower-level talks between U.S., N. Korea to be held this month: expert

SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- The United States could hold lower-level talks with
North Korea in a third country within this month to fine-tune bilateral
negotiations aimed at denuclearizing the communist state, an American expert on
Asia said Saturday.

"Even if special representative Stephen Bosworth doesn't head to North Korea,
bilateral talks in a third country could be held within the month involving Sung
Kim or another lower-level official," Larry Niksch, an Asia specialist for the
U.S. Congressional Research Service, was quoted as saying by Radio Free Asia in a
Korean-language report.
"I think the Obama Administration wants to get an idea of what kind of agreement"
the North is seeking, Niksch said.
North Korea recently invited Bosworth, U.S. special representative for North
Korea policy, to visit Pyongyang for negotiations on its atomic weapons program.
Kim is the U.S. special envoy to the six-party talks on North Korea's
denuclearization.
The U.S. has expressed its willingness to talk bilaterally with the North but
repeatedly stressed that the discussion will be aimed at drawing Pyongyang back
to the six-nation forum. U.S. officials said they have yet to set the date,
venue, and other details for the expected talks.
Pyongyang has boycotted the six-party negotiations, claiming they have been used
to infringe upon its sovereign right to develop nuclear and space technology. The
six-party process also involves South Korea, China, Japan and Russia.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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