ID :
85577
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 08:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/85577
The shortlink copeid
U.S. to maintain sanctions on nuke-armed N. Korea: Clinton
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insisted Wednesday that the United States will not lift sanctions on North Korea nor normalize ties unless Pyongyang takes irreversible steps toward its denuclearization.
In a speech to a forum hosted by the U.S. Institute of Peace at the Renaissance
Mayflower Hotel here, Clinton addressed the U.N. sanctions imposed on the North
after its nuclear and missile tests.
"Current sanctions will not be relaxed until Pyongyang takes verifiable,
irreversible steps toward complete denuclearization," she said. "Its leaders
should be under no illusion that the United States will ever have normal,
sanctions-free relations with a nuclear-armed North Korea."
The top U.S. diplomat also said that the U.S. is ready to have bilateral talks
with North Korea if they lead to resumption of the six-party talks on ending its
nuclear ambitions.
"Within the framework of the six-party talks, we are prepared to meet bilaterally
with North Korea," she said. "But North Korea's return to the negotiating table
is not enough."
Her remarks come as Ri Gun, North Korea's deputy chief to the nuclear talks, is
in Beijing on his way to San Diego and New York for possible talks with U.S.
officials on the sidelines of seminars.
Ri is expected to meet with Sung Kim, special envoy for six-party talks, on
preparations for a possible visit to Pyongyang by Stephen Bosworth, special
representative for North Korea policy, for a breakthrough on the stalled nuclear
negotiations.
North Korea extended the invitation to Bosworth in August when former U.S.
President Bill Clinton visited the North Korean capital to win the release of two
American journalists.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao flew to Pyongyang earlier this month to meet with
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, who expressed his intention to come back to the
six-party talks, which Pyongyang has been boycotting.
Kim, however, linked the North's participation to the outcome of bilateral talks
with the U.S., which has yet to make a decision on whether to send Bosworth to
Pyongyang.
In the forum to address nonproliferation policy, Clinton singled out North Korea
and Iran as policy failures, describing "the range and intensity of current
nuclear proliferation challenges" as "alarming."
"The international community failed to prevent North Korea from developing
nuclear weapons. We are now engaged in diplomatic efforts to roll back this
development," she said. "Iran continues to ignore resolutions from the United
Nations Security Council demanding that it suspend its enrichment activities and
live up to those international obligations."
She added, "Thwarting the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran is critical
to shoring up the nonproliferation regime."
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insisted Wednesday that the United States will not lift sanctions on North Korea nor normalize ties unless Pyongyang takes irreversible steps toward its denuclearization.
In a speech to a forum hosted by the U.S. Institute of Peace at the Renaissance
Mayflower Hotel here, Clinton addressed the U.N. sanctions imposed on the North
after its nuclear and missile tests.
"Current sanctions will not be relaxed until Pyongyang takes verifiable,
irreversible steps toward complete denuclearization," she said. "Its leaders
should be under no illusion that the United States will ever have normal,
sanctions-free relations with a nuclear-armed North Korea."
The top U.S. diplomat also said that the U.S. is ready to have bilateral talks
with North Korea if they lead to resumption of the six-party talks on ending its
nuclear ambitions.
"Within the framework of the six-party talks, we are prepared to meet bilaterally
with North Korea," she said. "But North Korea's return to the negotiating table
is not enough."
Her remarks come as Ri Gun, North Korea's deputy chief to the nuclear talks, is
in Beijing on his way to San Diego and New York for possible talks with U.S.
officials on the sidelines of seminars.
Ri is expected to meet with Sung Kim, special envoy for six-party talks, on
preparations for a possible visit to Pyongyang by Stephen Bosworth, special
representative for North Korea policy, for a breakthrough on the stalled nuclear
negotiations.
North Korea extended the invitation to Bosworth in August when former U.S.
President Bill Clinton visited the North Korean capital to win the release of two
American journalists.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao flew to Pyongyang earlier this month to meet with
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, who expressed his intention to come back to the
six-party talks, which Pyongyang has been boycotting.
Kim, however, linked the North's participation to the outcome of bilateral talks
with the U.S., which has yet to make a decision on whether to send Bosworth to
Pyongyang.
In the forum to address nonproliferation policy, Clinton singled out North Korea
and Iran as policy failures, describing "the range and intensity of current
nuclear proliferation challenges" as "alarming."
"The international community failed to prevent North Korea from developing
nuclear weapons. We are now engaged in diplomatic efforts to roll back this
development," she said. "Iran continues to ignore resolutions from the United
Nations Security Council demanding that it suspend its enrichment activities and
live up to those international obligations."
She added, "Thwarting the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran is critical
to shoring up the nonproliferation regime."
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
