ASEAN's Korean dialogue opens option for sextet talks restart

MOSCOW, August 9 (Itar-Tass) -- The meeting of representatives of
Seoul and Pyongyang at the ASEAN summit in July /Bali Island/ opened
opportunities for restarting the sextet talks on denuclearisation of the
Korean Peninsula, the Republic of Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Trade Kim Sung-hwan said in an exclusive interview with Itar-Tass on
Tuesday.
"Over past three years, Korean talks reached a deadlock," the minister
said. "The last meeting of representatives of Seoul and Pyongyang on the
fields of the ASEAN summit opened new opportunities for restarting the
talks in the format of a sextet."
The reason of the entire nuclear problem of the Korean Peninsula is
"in incorrect actions of the DPRK - Pyongyang made two nuclear tests and
tries to make re-enrichment of uranium."
Commenting on prospects for resuming the sextet talks, the minister
urged the northern neighbour "to undertake relevant preparatory measures."
"This is not only our position," he explained. "Other participants in
the sextet gain understanding that Pyongyang should carry out certain
preliminary measures."
The sextet's further consultations "should be practical," he stressed.
"We may achieve progress in this matter," he said. "It is necessary to
unite efforts of all the sides to normalise the situation in the region."
Kim Sung-hwan highlighted importance of bilateral negotiations with
Pyongyang.