Foreign minister vows to reinforce efforts to denuclearize N. Korea

(ATTN: CHANGES lead; UPDATES with additional information in 5th para)
SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- Foreign minister Yu Myung-hwan said on Monday that his
ministry will redouble its efforts this year to help resolve the standoff over
North Korea's nuclear ambition while supporting the country's growing leadership
in the international community.
The minister said the country will especially work to improve its diplomatic
relations with countries in the Middle East, Africa and South America.
"The ministry will work to make a 'greater Korea' in the new year based on the
positive outcome of our efforts up until now," Yu told ministry officials in a
ceremony marking the first day of work in the New Year.
"To this end, our main tasks this year will include expansion of diplomacy by the
president, successful hosting of the G-20 economic summit, increasing our role in
the international community and boosting support for our people and businesses
overseas," he added.
Seoul assumed the co-chairmanship of the G-20 summit, the world's premier forum
for economic cooperation, at the start of the year and will host a summit in
November.
Diplomacy by the head of state will focus on countries in the Middle East, the
European Union and Africa as the country also tries to help establish a network
of global governance through international meetings, such as the G-20 summit, the
minister noted.
President Lee Myung-bak last year made efforts to establish a network of
cooperation with Southeast Asian nations under the New Asia Initiative.
North Korea will continue to take up an important part of the country's
diplomatic efforts, the minister said.
"The ministry plans to redouble its efforts to resume the six-party talks while
consistently pushing to reach a grand bargain for the denuclearization of North
Korea under close cooperation among the five countries in the talks," he said.
Announced by President Lee in September, the proposal for a grand bargain seeks
to rid North Korea of its key nuclear programs in a single step, instead of in
phases, in exchange for incentives for the communist North. The six-way nuclear
talks involve the two Koreas, the U.S., Japan, China and Russia.
Minister Yu also called for continued efforts to forge free trade agreements with
other countries to help create new opportunities for the country's businesses.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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