ID :
89023
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 07:09
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https://www.oananews.org//node/89023
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U.S. has informed N. Korea of Bosworth's trip to Pyongyang: State Dept.
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- The United States said Tuesday it has notified North Korea of its intention to send its point man on North Korea to Pyongyang at an appropriate time as part of the six-party process to denuclearize the North.
"We have told North Korea that we are prepared for Ambassador (Stephen) Bosworth
and a small interagency team to visit Pyongyang at an appropriate time not yet
determined," said Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of state for public
affairs.
Crowley said the proposed visit should focus on resumption of the multilateral
talks on ending North Korean nuclear weapons programs. The talks have been at a
lull due to U.N. sanctions for North Korea's nuclear and missile tests earlier
this year.
"Ambassador Bosworth's discussions in Pyongyang will take place in the context of
the six-party talks," said Crowley. "From our standpoint, the purpose will be to
facilitate an early resumption of the six-party talks and to secure North Korea's
reaffirmation of the September 2005 joint statement of the six-party talks,
including verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful
manner."
The 2005 nuclear deal calls for the North's nuclear dismantlement in return for a
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.
U.S. officials have said that an announcement on the trip by Bosworth, special
representative for North Korea policy, will come "soon," before President Barack
Obama embarks on a nine-day trip to Asia, including South Korea, Thursday.
The rare diplomatic mission to Pyongyang, however, will not take place until
after Obama returns on Nov. 19, the officials said, hinting that Bosworth make
the trip late this month or in early December.
Reports said that North Korea has agreed that Bosworth will meet with Kang
Sok-ju, North Korea's first vice foreign minister and the immediate superior of
Kim Kye-gwan, head of the North Korean delegation to the six-party talks.
The two sides also agreed to hold at least a couple of bilateral meetings before
Pyongyang returns to the six-party talks, according to reports. The agreement was
reached at meetings between Sung Kim, U.S. special envoy for six-party talks, and
Ri Gun, director general of the North American affairs bureau of North Korea's
foreign ministry, in New York and San Diego recently on the sidelines of academic
seminars.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il early last month agreed to return to the
six-party talks pending the outcome of bilateral talks with the U.S.
The U.S. sees the North's recent conciliatory overtures as the result of
international financial sanctions and an overall arms embargo, which Washington
believes have effectively cut off revenues from arms sales, the only source of
hard currency for the impoverished communist state.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- The United States said Tuesday it has notified North Korea of its intention to send its point man on North Korea to Pyongyang at an appropriate time as part of the six-party process to denuclearize the North.
"We have told North Korea that we are prepared for Ambassador (Stephen) Bosworth
and a small interagency team to visit Pyongyang at an appropriate time not yet
determined," said Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of state for public
affairs.
Crowley said the proposed visit should focus on resumption of the multilateral
talks on ending North Korean nuclear weapons programs. The talks have been at a
lull due to U.N. sanctions for North Korea's nuclear and missile tests earlier
this year.
"Ambassador Bosworth's discussions in Pyongyang will take place in the context of
the six-party talks," said Crowley. "From our standpoint, the purpose will be to
facilitate an early resumption of the six-party talks and to secure North Korea's
reaffirmation of the September 2005 joint statement of the six-party talks,
including verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful
manner."
The 2005 nuclear deal calls for the North's nuclear dismantlement in return for a
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.
U.S. officials have said that an announcement on the trip by Bosworth, special
representative for North Korea policy, will come "soon," before President Barack
Obama embarks on a nine-day trip to Asia, including South Korea, Thursday.
The rare diplomatic mission to Pyongyang, however, will not take place until
after Obama returns on Nov. 19, the officials said, hinting that Bosworth make
the trip late this month or in early December.
Reports said that North Korea has agreed that Bosworth will meet with Kang
Sok-ju, North Korea's first vice foreign minister and the immediate superior of
Kim Kye-gwan, head of the North Korean delegation to the six-party talks.
The two sides also agreed to hold at least a couple of bilateral meetings before
Pyongyang returns to the six-party talks, according to reports. The agreement was
reached at meetings between Sung Kim, U.S. special envoy for six-party talks, and
Ri Gun, director general of the North American affairs bureau of North Korea's
foreign ministry, in New York and San Diego recently on the sidelines of academic
seminars.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il early last month agreed to return to the
six-party talks pending the outcome of bilateral talks with the U.S.
The U.S. sees the North's recent conciliatory overtures as the result of
international financial sanctions and an overall arms embargo, which Washington
believes have effectively cut off revenues from arms sales, the only source of
hard currency for the impoverished communist state.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
