ID :
203688
Fri, 08/26/2011 - 13:21
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/203688
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea seeks to resume bilateral nuclear talks with N. Korea
SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is seeking to hold a second round of bilateral nuclear talks with North Korea, possibly next month, amid a flurry of diplomacy aimed at reviving the long-stalled broader negotiations on ending the North's nuclear weapons programs, an official said Friday.
The nuclear envoys of the two Koreas met in Indonesia in July for the first time in more than two years in late July, setting the tone for renewed diplomatic efforts to reopen the stalled six-party talks, which also involves the U.S., China, Japan and Russia.
"At this stage, work is underway to create an atmosphere to hold such talks, but nothing has been decided yet," a senior foreign ministry official said when asked whether another bilateral inter-Korean nuclear talks are expected.
"The follow-up talks (with North Korea) can or cannot be held. Our stance is that we will continue to seek to hold such talks," the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The six-party talks have been stalled since late 2008 when North Korea abruptly left the discussion table.
Days after July's inter-Korean nuclear talks on the sidelines of an Asian security meeting, senior officials from the North and the U.S. held a rare "exploratory" meeting in New York.
There still are no clear indications when the stalled six-party talks can re-open.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, during a rare summit with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev this week, reportedly pledged to consider issuing a moratorium on nuclear testing and missile launches if the six-party talks resume.
The North's gesture received a cool response from South Korea and the U.S. which have been pressing Pyongyang to announce such a moratorium before, not after, the multilateral negotiations begin.
The North's gesture to rejoin the six-party talks came after a year of high tension with South Korea, following its two military attacks that killed a total of 50 South Koreans and revelation of new uranium-enrichment facility.
South Korea and the U.S., wary of the North's typical tactic of using provocations and dialogue to win concessions, have insisted that North Korea must improve relations with the South and take concrete action to show its genuine willingness to denuclearize.
The nuclear envoys of the two Koreas met in Indonesia in July for the first time in more than two years in late July, setting the tone for renewed diplomatic efforts to reopen the stalled six-party talks, which also involves the U.S., China, Japan and Russia.
"At this stage, work is underway to create an atmosphere to hold such talks, but nothing has been decided yet," a senior foreign ministry official said when asked whether another bilateral inter-Korean nuclear talks are expected.
"The follow-up talks (with North Korea) can or cannot be held. Our stance is that we will continue to seek to hold such talks," the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The six-party talks have been stalled since late 2008 when North Korea abruptly left the discussion table.
Days after July's inter-Korean nuclear talks on the sidelines of an Asian security meeting, senior officials from the North and the U.S. held a rare "exploratory" meeting in New York.
There still are no clear indications when the stalled six-party talks can re-open.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, during a rare summit with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev this week, reportedly pledged to consider issuing a moratorium on nuclear testing and missile launches if the six-party talks resume.
The North's gesture received a cool response from South Korea and the U.S. which have been pressing Pyongyang to announce such a moratorium before, not after, the multilateral negotiations begin.
The North's gesture to rejoin the six-party talks came after a year of high tension with South Korea, following its two military attacks that killed a total of 50 South Koreans and revelation of new uranium-enrichment facility.
South Korea and the U.S., wary of the North's typical tactic of using provocations and dialogue to win concessions, have insisted that North Korea must improve relations with the South and take concrete action to show its genuine willingness to denuclearize.
