(2nd LD) China lukewarm on 5-way meeting without Pyongyang

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with Chinese envoy's comments, S. Korean official's
background briefing, other details)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- China wants to focus diplomatic efforts on brining
North Korea back to the six-way talks on its nuclear program rather than holding
a separate five-way gathering without the communist ally, according to Beijing's
top nuclear envoy.
"We will maintain the six-way format," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei
tersely told reporters here Monday when asked if China supports the five-way
gathering sought by Seoul. Wu was coming out of talks with Seoul's top nuclear
negotiator Wi Sung-lac and Vice Foreign Minister Kwon Jong-rak.
He reaffirmed Beijing's position that it will seek the denuclearization of the
North through dialogue and peaceful means, but declined any further comments.
Wu, who chairs the six-way disarmament talks, arrived in Seoul on Sunday for a
three-day stay as part of a rare regional tour that also took him to Russia, the
U.S., and Japan.
Wu is unlikely to travel to North Korea during his ongoing trip, South Korean
officials said. He leaves Seoul on Tuesday.
Seoul has been pushing for a five-way meeting with China, the U.S., Russia, and
Japan amid North Korea's boycott of the six-way talks.
South Korean officials emphasized that holding the five-way event would be
"better than doing nothing," saying it would set the stage for the five nations
to demonstrate unity on North Korea and discuss ways to resume dialogue with it.
They said the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to be held next week in Phuket,
Thailand, may provide a chance.
"China maintained a prudent stance on five-way consultations," a South Korean
foreign ministry official said after a closed-door meeting between the nuclear
envoys. "The two sides agreed to continue study and consultations on the issue."
It was their second meeting in a month following talks in early June in Beijing.
The official said that the two sides had "frank and in-depth" consultations but
that no immediate breakthrough is expected in the current deadlock.
"China seems to have felt the need for more communications with other nations
after North Korea conducted a nuclear test and test-fired missiles," he said. "I
think the focus (of Wu's tour) was to listen to the opinions of other nations."
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)