(LEAD) Obama pledges better future for denuclearized N. Korea

(ATTN: ADDS State Dept. spokesman's remarks in paras 6-7)
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Friday North
Korea will see a better future if it pursues denuclearization, but otherwise
warned of continued sanctions.

Obama's remarks came at a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama in Tokyo on his first stop in an eight-day Asia trip, which will also
bring him to Singapore, Beijing and Seoul.
"We discussed both North Korea and the situation in Iran, recognizing that it's
absolutely vital that both countries meet their international obligations," Obama
said, according to a transcript released by the White House. "If they do, then
they can open the door to a better future. If not, we will remain united in
implementing U.N. resolutions that are in place and continuing to work in an
international context to move towards an agenda of nonproliferation."
The United Nations Security Council adopted resolutions earlier this year after
North Korea's nuclear and missile tests to impose financial sanctions and an
overall arms embargo, prompting the North to bolt from the six-party talks on
ending its nuclear programs.
North Korea recently hinted at a possible return to the multilateral nuclear
talks, contingent on bilateral talks with the U.S.
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told a daily news briefing that Stephen
Bosworth, special representative for North Korea policy, will go to Pyongyang
between "the end of this month or the beginning of December" to woo the North
back to the six-party talks.
Another official, who asked not to be named, put the timing to early December.
In Japan, Obama said he discussed extensively with Hatoyama "how we should proceed
with Pyongyang."
"Obviously, we were disturbed by the testing that took place, some of the
belligerent actions that had taken place in an earlier period of this year," he
said. "We have continued to say that our goal is a non-nuclear Korean Peninsula.
That's vital for the security of East Asia."
The U.S. president reiterated he will seek North Korea's nuclear dismantlement
through the six-party talks.
"The United States and Japan, with the other members of the six-party talks, will
continue to work to show North Korea that there is a pathway, a door, for them to
rejoin the international community that would serve their people well and I
believe enhance their security over the long term," Obama said. "They have to
walk through that door."
"In the meantime, we will continue to implement the sanctions that have already
been put in place, and we will continue to coordinate closely with Japan and the
other six-party members in helping to shape a strategy that meets our security
needs and convince Pyongyang to move in a better direction," he said.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)