Koreas agree to resume six-party talks 'as soon as possible'

BALI, Indonesia, July 22 (Yonhap) -- South and North Korea agreed to make joint efforts to resume the stalled six-party talks on the North's nuclear program "as soon as possible," Pyongyang's chief nuclear envoy said Friday.
The agreement came after a rare, two-hour meeting between South Korean chief nuclear negotiator Wi Sung-lac and his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Bali.
"During the talks, we agreed to make joint efforts to reopen the six-party talks as soon as possible," Ri told reporters after the talks.
The two sides also agreed to reaffirm their "willingness to implement" the 2005 statement in which the North agreed to give up its nuclear program, Ri said.
Ri said the talks were held in a "frank and serious" mood.
Wi echoed Ri's view, saying the two sides held "productive" talks and "agreed to continue to make efforts for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."
kdh@yna.co.kr