(LEAD) NK-US dialogue

(LEAD) N. Korea, U.S. likely to hold multiple direct talks: expert
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with possible inter-Korean summit, other details)
By Lee Chi-dong
JEJU ISLAND, Nov. 27 (Yonhap) -- North Korea and the United States are expected
to lay the groundwork for top-level bilateral talks, probably involving Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton, when President Barack Obama's special envoy visits
Pyongyang next month, a South Korean expert said Friday.
Nam Sung-wook, director of the Institute for National Security Strategy, pointed
out that North Korea makes much of "diplomatic protocol" in reaching an important
deal and views Washington's top diplomat as a real counterpart.
"I am skeptical" that Stephen Bosworth, special representative for North Korean
policy, will produce any tangible result in moving forward the denuclearization
process, Nam said at a seminar here on North Korea. He is known as one of
President Lee Myung-bak's security policy advisers.
Bosworth is scheduled to fly into Pyongyang on Dec. 8 for what would be the
first formal negotiations between the two sides under the Obama administration.
The U.S. has not revealed other details on Bosworth's trip, although the envoy
is widely expected to meet the North's Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok-ju.
The U.S. has stressed that Bosworth's mission will be limited to efforts to tempt
Pyongyang back to the six-way nuclear talks also involving South Korea, China,
Russia and Japan. North Korea said it would decide whether to rejoin the
Beijing-based forum in accordance with the outcome of its bilateral talks with
Washington.
"The two sides may discuss various issues, but higher-level dialogue will be
needed to confirm any decision," Nam said. "I do not expect any headline news
from Amb. Bosworth's visit, but I would do so if other high-level talks are
held."
He added chances are high that the six-way talks will be resumed after Pyongyang
and Washington hold one more dialogue in January or February next year.
In late October, Ri Gun, the director of U.S. affairs at the North Korean Foreign
Ministry, and Sung Kim, U.S. special envoy for the six-party talks, met in New
York to prepare for Bosworth's trip.
The U.S. magazine "Foreign Policy" reported that in the working-level meeting,
the two sides agreed to hold two rounds of official bilateral talks.
Nam said the current South Korean government will push for an inter-Korean summit
someday.
"For the conservative administration, it would be minus if the North Korean
nuclear issue is not included on the agenda. It will be the number one agenda
item," he said with regard to the conditions for the third round of inter-Korean
summit. "The timing and venue also matter."
South Korea will be preferred for the summit venue as the two previous ones were
held in Pyongyang, he added, and the Lee administration will choose a date
keeping in mind that the Roh Moo-hyun administration faced political criticism at
home for holding a summit with the North during the final months in office.
Nam refused to talk about a barrage of media reports that the two Koreas had a
secret meeting in Singapore last month to discuss a possible summit. Government
officials neither confirmed nor denied the reports.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)