ID :
190640
Thu, 06/23/2011 - 11:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/190640
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea seen softening demand for N.K. apology before resumption of talks
SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Thursday that North Korea's sincerity about denuclearization is the most important condition for resuming inter-Korean dialogue or other talks, not an overt apology from the North over its two deadly attacks last year.
The remarks by Seoul's Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Byung-jae are seen as a sign that the South is relaxing its stance on North Korea. South Korea had insisted that an apology from the North should be a precondition for resuming talks.
"With regard to ways to resume any dialogue with North Korea, including inter-Korean talks or six-party negotiations, the most important condition is whether the North will show a sincere attitude on resolving the nuclear issue," Cho told reporters.
Asked if South Korea softened its demand for an apology, Cho repeatedly declined to reply. Instead, the spokesman said the North's two attacks last year "can't be left unsaid."
Inter-Korean tensions soared last year following the two attacks -- the sinking of the Cheonan warship and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island -- that killed a total of 50 South Koreans. North Korea has denied sinking the ship and claimed the bombardment of Yeonpyeong was provoked by the South's artillery exercise.
"As for the Cheonan warship and Yeonpyeong Island, the issues caused obvious losses in the lives and property of our people," Cho said.
"So the issues can't be left unsaid, and our people won't accept if we overlook the issues without mentioning anything," he said, declining to elaborate further.
Cho's comments came while South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan is visiting the United States to discuss ways to resume the six-party talks that have been stalled for more than two years.
South Korea is pitching a three-step approach to the stalled talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programs. The approach calls for the North to meet the South first and then the U.S. before reopening the multilateral forum.
After sharply raising tensions last year, North Korea has repeatedly expressed its willingness since early this year to return to the six-party talks on dismantling its nuclear weapons program.
But hopes for reopening the multilateral denuclearization talks have dimmed amid inter-Korean tensions. Regional powers are also wary of the North's pattern of carrying out provocations and then winning concessions through negotiations.
Further complicating efforts for resuming the six-party talks, North Korea has said since late last month that it won't deal with South Korea, and vowed indiscriminate retaliation against the South's military for its use of head-shot photos of the North's top leaders as targets for shooting practice.
The remarks by Seoul's Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Byung-jae are seen as a sign that the South is relaxing its stance on North Korea. South Korea had insisted that an apology from the North should be a precondition for resuming talks.
"With regard to ways to resume any dialogue with North Korea, including inter-Korean talks or six-party negotiations, the most important condition is whether the North will show a sincere attitude on resolving the nuclear issue," Cho told reporters.
Asked if South Korea softened its demand for an apology, Cho repeatedly declined to reply. Instead, the spokesman said the North's two attacks last year "can't be left unsaid."
Inter-Korean tensions soared last year following the two attacks -- the sinking of the Cheonan warship and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island -- that killed a total of 50 South Koreans. North Korea has denied sinking the ship and claimed the bombardment of Yeonpyeong was provoked by the South's artillery exercise.
"As for the Cheonan warship and Yeonpyeong Island, the issues caused obvious losses in the lives and property of our people," Cho said.
"So the issues can't be left unsaid, and our people won't accept if we overlook the issues without mentioning anything," he said, declining to elaborate further.
Cho's comments came while South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan is visiting the United States to discuss ways to resume the six-party talks that have been stalled for more than two years.
South Korea is pitching a three-step approach to the stalled talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programs. The approach calls for the North to meet the South first and then the U.S. before reopening the multilateral forum.
After sharply raising tensions last year, North Korea has repeatedly expressed its willingness since early this year to return to the six-party talks on dismantling its nuclear weapons program.
But hopes for reopening the multilateral denuclearization talks have dimmed amid inter-Korean tensions. Regional powers are also wary of the North's pattern of carrying out provocations and then winning concessions through negotiations.
Further complicating efforts for resuming the six-party talks, North Korea has said since late last month that it won't deal with South Korea, and vowed indiscriminate retaliation against the South's military for its use of head-shot photos of the North's top leaders as targets for shooting practice.
