Seoul, Washington discuss "comprehensive package" for N. Korea`s denuclearization

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, July 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean and U.S. diplomats discussed on Monday a
"comprehensive package" of incentives for North Korea to end its nuclear weapons
program in consultations ahead of a regional security forum to be attended by
other members of denuclearization talks, officials said.
Kurt Campbell, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific
affairs, held a closed-door meeting with Wi Sung-lac, Seoul's top nuclear envoy,
and other senior government officials.
"I think we need to make sure that we are extremely coordinated in a very
critical period," Campbell said during a brief photo session prior to the talks
with Wi.
Wi and Campbell discussed a wide range of "macro" agendas surrounding North
Korea's nuclear and military provocations, including a "comprehensive package
approach," although the idea wasn't discussed in detail, according to an official
who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Campbell, the U.S. administration's new point man on the strategically important
region, flew into Seoul on Saturday for his first visit here since taking the
post late last month.
The idea of a comprehensive package was initially proposed by Seoul, the official
said. It is still in the early stages of deliberation among member nations of the
six-party talks, which group the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan.
The official declined to elaborate further.
Campbell, who also met Seoul's foreign and unification ministers, was scheduled
to leave for Thailand later in the day to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum opening
in Thailand.
The U.S. diplomat, after a meeting with South Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister Lee
Yong-joon on Saturday, urged North Korea to take "serious and irreversible steps"
over its nuclear program as a precondition for a "comprehensive package" of
incentives.
North Korea, condemned by the international community for its long-range rocket
launch in April, declared it was quitting the six-party talks. The following
month, it went ahead with a second nuclear test, which drew sanctions by the U.N.
Security Council.
In a meeting with senior journalists over breakfast, Campbell said the U.S. has a
"two track" strategy based on sanctions and dialogue in dealing with North
Korea's provocations. Washington, he said, is currently focused on sending a
"strong message of disapproval" with respect to North Korea's provocations.
"This is where most of our effort has been dedicated, and this is where our focus
is (at the moment," Campbell said, while also stressing it is important to "leave
the door open" to give Pyongyang "a chance should it decide to return to the
six-party talks."
"Partners of the six-party process are prepared to put forward a comprehensive
package that would send a strong message of international support to North
Korea," he said, should Pyongyang decide to return to dialogue.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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