NK-US dialogue

N. Korea, U.S. likely to hold multiple direct talks: expert
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.
"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."
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.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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