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196731
Sat, 07/23/2011 - 17:42
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https://oananews.org//node/196731
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(3rd LD) Koreas agree on efforts for nuclear-free Korean Peninsula: FM
(ATTN: UPDATES with Minister Kim's remarks in paras 2-4; possible US visit by Kim Kye-gwan at bottom; ADDS new photo)
By Kim Deok-hyun
BALI, Indonesia, July 23 (Yonhap) -- South and North Korea agreed to continue to work together for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, Seoul's foreign minister said Saturday, amid a ray of hope for the resumption of multinational talks on ending the North's nuclear program.
South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said he held a series of brief, informal meetings with his North Korean counterpart, Pak Ui-chun, on the sidelines of a key ASEAN forum in Bali.
"During the brief meetings with Pak, I think that we built significant common understanding on joint efforts for denuclearization dialogues," Kim told reporters as he wrapped up his schedules for the ASEAN Regional Forum.
"We also shared views that the denuclearization talks should be led by South and North Korea," said Kim, declining to get into specifics of the discussions with Pak.
The Kim-Pak contact came a day after the chief nuclear envoys from the two Koreas met in this Indonesian resort for the first time since 2008 and agreed to make joint efforts for an early resumption of the multilateral talks.
The talks between Wi Sung-lac from South Korea and Ri Yong-ho from the North raised cautious hopes for the resumption of the six-party process, which has been stalled for more than two years. The six-party talks involve the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan.
It was also the first time that top diplomats from the two Koreas have met since a meeting at an ASEAN forum in July 2008 in Singapore.
At the ASEAN forum on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters that she was "encouraged" by the surprise talks between the Wi and Ri, but urged the North to show its genuine commitment to denuclearization ahead of the six-party talks.
"We are encouraged by the recent North-South meeting that took place on the margins of the ASEAN Regional Forum," Clinton said.
"But we remain firm that in order for six-party talks to resume, North Korea must take steps to improve North-South relations," she said.
Clinton called for "North Korea to demonstrate a change in behavior, including ceasing provocative actions, taking steps toward irreversible denuclearization and complying with its commitments."
South Korea and the regional powers are pushing to reopen the six-party nuclear dialogue forum in a three-step approach in which North Korea will meet with South Korea first and then the U.S. for one-on-one talks on denuclearization before the multilateral process can take place.
Top diplomats from all six of the nations attended this year's ASEAN forum in Bali.
Meanwhile, Kurt Campbell, assistant U.S. secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, told Yonhap News Agency that consultations have been underway for a visit by North Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan to the U.S.
The North Korean diplomat, who was promoted to the current post last October and had served as the North's chief nuclear envoy before Ri, is reportedly pushing to visit New York next week at the earliest.
By Kim Deok-hyun
BALI, Indonesia, July 23 (Yonhap) -- South and North Korea agreed to continue to work together for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, Seoul's foreign minister said Saturday, amid a ray of hope for the resumption of multinational talks on ending the North's nuclear program.
South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said he held a series of brief, informal meetings with his North Korean counterpart, Pak Ui-chun, on the sidelines of a key ASEAN forum in Bali.
"During the brief meetings with Pak, I think that we built significant common understanding on joint efforts for denuclearization dialogues," Kim told reporters as he wrapped up his schedules for the ASEAN Regional Forum.
"We also shared views that the denuclearization talks should be led by South and North Korea," said Kim, declining to get into specifics of the discussions with Pak.
The Kim-Pak contact came a day after the chief nuclear envoys from the two Koreas met in this Indonesian resort for the first time since 2008 and agreed to make joint efforts for an early resumption of the multilateral talks.
The talks between Wi Sung-lac from South Korea and Ri Yong-ho from the North raised cautious hopes for the resumption of the six-party process, which has been stalled for more than two years. The six-party talks involve the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan.
It was also the first time that top diplomats from the two Koreas have met since a meeting at an ASEAN forum in July 2008 in Singapore.
At the ASEAN forum on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters that she was "encouraged" by the surprise talks between the Wi and Ri, but urged the North to show its genuine commitment to denuclearization ahead of the six-party talks.
"We are encouraged by the recent North-South meeting that took place on the margins of the ASEAN Regional Forum," Clinton said.
"But we remain firm that in order for six-party talks to resume, North Korea must take steps to improve North-South relations," she said.
Clinton called for "North Korea to demonstrate a change in behavior, including ceasing provocative actions, taking steps toward irreversible denuclearization and complying with its commitments."
South Korea and the regional powers are pushing to reopen the six-party nuclear dialogue forum in a three-step approach in which North Korea will meet with South Korea first and then the U.S. for one-on-one talks on denuclearization before the multilateral process can take place.
Top diplomats from all six of the nations attended this year's ASEAN forum in Bali.
Meanwhile, Kurt Campbell, assistant U.S. secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, told Yonhap News Agency that consultations have been underway for a visit by North Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan to the U.S.
The North Korean diplomat, who was promoted to the current post last October and had served as the North's chief nuclear envoy before Ri, is reportedly pushing to visit New York next week at the earliest.
