ID :
196788
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 06:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/196788
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Official: Last week's nuclear talks with N. Korea not enough to break deadlock
SEOUL, July 24 (Yonhap) -- Last week's nuclear talks between South and North Korea are not enough to break the deadlock in relations between the two sides and Pyongyang must "state its position" on last year's two deadly attacks on the South, a senior presidential official said Sunday.
The remark means that the South still considers a North Korean apology for the attacks as a precondition for mending fences with the communist nation, though last week's rare meeting between the nuclear envoys of the two sides has spawned optimism about their ties.
Friday's nuclear talks, held on the sidelines of a regional security forum in Bali, Indonesia, were considered a concession from Pyongyang, as the country has refused to discuss the nuclear issue with the South claiming it is a matter between it and the U.S.
South Korea has long demanded such talks, saying it wants to make sure the North is serious about giving up its nuclear programs before restarting the long-stalled six-party nuclear talks involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, the U.S. and Russia.
"It appears to be premature to expect there would be a significant change" in inter-Korean relations next month, the presidential official said on the condition of anonymity. "Just because a swallow has come does not mean spring is around the corner. We have to wait and see."
The North cannot be exonerated from responsibility for its sinking of the South's warship Cheonan and the artillery attack on the island of Yeonpyeong last year just because it came forward to hold denuclearization talks with the South, the official said.
"Bilateral relations can be resolved only when the North states its position" on the attacks, he said. The possibility of an inter-Korean summit is also tied to the North's attitude on the attacks, he said.
Relations between the two sides have been tense since President Lee Myung-bak took office in early 2008 with a policy to link unconditional aid to progress in international efforts to get North Korea to give up its nuclear programs.
Their ties frayed further due to last year's attacks.
The South has since demanded an apology from the North for the attacks as a precondition for resuming reconciliation and restarting the six-party talks. Seoul has also demanded that Pyongyang take concrete steps to demonstrate it is serious about giving up its nuclear ambitions.
jschang@yna.co.kr
The remark means that the South still considers a North Korean apology for the attacks as a precondition for mending fences with the communist nation, though last week's rare meeting between the nuclear envoys of the two sides has spawned optimism about their ties.
Friday's nuclear talks, held on the sidelines of a regional security forum in Bali, Indonesia, were considered a concession from Pyongyang, as the country has refused to discuss the nuclear issue with the South claiming it is a matter between it and the U.S.
South Korea has long demanded such talks, saying it wants to make sure the North is serious about giving up its nuclear programs before restarting the long-stalled six-party nuclear talks involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, the U.S. and Russia.
"It appears to be premature to expect there would be a significant change" in inter-Korean relations next month, the presidential official said on the condition of anonymity. "Just because a swallow has come does not mean spring is around the corner. We have to wait and see."
The North cannot be exonerated from responsibility for its sinking of the South's warship Cheonan and the artillery attack on the island of Yeonpyeong last year just because it came forward to hold denuclearization talks with the South, the official said.
"Bilateral relations can be resolved only when the North states its position" on the attacks, he said. The possibility of an inter-Korean summit is also tied to the North's attitude on the attacks, he said.
Relations between the two sides have been tense since President Lee Myung-bak took office in early 2008 with a policy to link unconditional aid to progress in international efforts to get North Korea to give up its nuclear programs.
Their ties frayed further due to last year's attacks.
The South has since demanded an apology from the North for the attacks as a precondition for resuming reconciliation and restarting the six-party talks. Seoul has also demanded that Pyongyang take concrete steps to demonstrate it is serious about giving up its nuclear ambitions.
jschang@yna.co.kr
