Congress calls on N. Korea to return to 6-party talks

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, June 15 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Congress Monday adopted a resolution
calling on North Korea to return to the six-party talks on ending its nuclear
ambitions and engage in dialogue with South Korea to ease tensions on the Korean
Peninsula.

"North Korea should immediately stop any hostile rhetoric and activity towards
the Republic of Korea and engage in mutual dialogue to enhance inter-Korean
relations," said the resolution drafted by Rep. Peter King (R-New York) and
several other lawmakers.
The resolution was adopted to coincide with South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak's visit here for a summit meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama
Tuesday to discuss ways to tackle North Korea's recent nuclear test and other
provocations.
North Korea has threatened to begin enriching uranium for more nuclear bombs and
stage a nuclear war in anger over the U.N. Security Council's imposition Friday
of financial sanctions and a ban on arms exports and imports in response to the
nuclear test, the second in nearly three years.
The congressional resolution also calls on the North to "fully implement the
six-party joint statement of September 19, 2005, verifiably abandon all of its
nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs, and return to the
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) at an early date."
Pyongyang has said it will boycott the multilateral nuclear talks unless the U.N.
apologizes for the sanctions.
The resolution also said that "the United States remains committed to the
promotion of inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation."
It said "the strategic importance of the strong alliance between the United
States and the Republic of Korea, in promoting peace and prosperity on the Korean
Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, should be recognized."
hdh@yna.co.kr
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