S. Korea to seek grand bargain for complete denuclearization of N. Korea: Amb. Han

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 13-15)
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will seek the complete
denuclearization of North Korea through a comprehensive deal rather than a
piecemeal approach that does not guarantee irreversible disarmament, a top South
Korean diplomat here said Thursday.
"We are seeking a comprehensive and bigger framework agreement, rather than a
piecemeal approach, to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue in a fundamental
way," Ambassador Han Duck-soo told a group of South Korean lawmakers visiting
here for an annual policy inspection of the South Korean Embassy in Washington.
"We are ready to provide North Korea with a security guarantee and assistance if
the North abandons its nuclear weapons and core nuclear materials in an
irreversible manner."
Han was discussing the so-called "grand bargain" South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak proposed recently amid concerns of a possible rift with the U.S. in
their joint approach to the North Korean nuclear issue.
Han dismissed such a concern, saying, "There is no different opinion between
South Korea and the U.S. on the grand bargain, and we will continue consulting
the U.S. and other related countries on details."
The grand bargain envisions a package deal in which members of the six-party
talks on ending the North's nuclear program provide it with security guarantees,
massive economic aid and other incentives in return for a complete deal that does
not necessitate further negotiations over the North's full denuclearization.
The idea comes from the loopholes in the two six-party deals signed by the
Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia in previous years that outlined a
phased denuclearization of the North.
"The Sept. 19, 2007, agreement is nothing more than a declaration on North
Korea's nuclear dismantlement that lacks a roadmap for its implementation," a
senior South Korean official said recently, asking anonymity. "The Feb. 13, 2005,
agreement, which is about North Korea's nuclear reactor and reprocessing
facilities at Yongbyon, does not address North Korea's existing nuclear arsenal."
The official said the joint goal of South Korea, the U.S. and other parties to
the six-way talks is to "first bring the North Koreans back to the six-party
talks and press them hard for a package deal or a grand bargain, however it is
named."
Ambassador Han said South Korea and other relevant parties will continue
sanctioning North Korea under U.N. resolutions until the North returns to the
six-way talks and takes steps for its denuclearization.
"There is firm consensus that we will continue implementing U.N. sanctions on
North Korea unless the goals of the U.N. resolutions are not met, even if
bilateral talks are sought between the U.S. and North Korea," the ambassador
said.
U.S. officials have said they are considering sending Stephen Bosworth, special
representative for North Korea policy, to Pyongyang to woo the North back to the
six-party talks, which Pyongyang has boycotted, citing U.N. sanctions for its
nuclear and missile tests earlier this year.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao flew to Pyongyang Monday to meet with North Korean
leader Kim Jong-il, and the reclusive North Korean leader told Wen that Pyongyang
is ready to rejoin the six-party talks, depending on the outcome of bilateral
talks with Washington.
Han spoke optimistically of Kim's meeting with Wen, saying "We see Prime Minister
Wen's visit to North Korea positively as it promotes North Korea's returning to
the six-party talks and its nuclear dismantlement."
The envoy, however, was pessimistic about the prospect of any bilateral talks
between Pyongyang and Washington.
"Negotiations should not be easy without a drastic change in the North's
attitude," he said, noting the U.S. will not deal with substance but use the
talks to persuade Pyongyang back to the six-party forum.
Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of state for public affairs, said Wednesday
Kim Jong-il's remarks are "a different statement than North Korea has made in
recent weeks or months."
Crowley said there wasn't a "particular timetable" for making a decision on
Bosworth's trip to Pyongyang, "but clearly the intent of any meeting that might
take place in the coming weeks would be to test that proposition -- whether North
Korea is in fact willing to come back to the six-party process, is willing to
meet its obligations to follow on in the commitments it has already made -- that
leads us towards a denuclearized Korean Peninsula."
U.S. President Barack Obama will visit South Korea in mid-November to meet with
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on North Korea's nuclear dismantlement and
other issues.
The trip is part of the nine-day Asian trip beginning Nov. 10 that will also
bring Obama to Singapore for the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum,
Beijing and Tokyo.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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