Tokyo: The top US diplomat for East Asia on Friday said it`s not too late for North Korea to return to international nuclear disarmament talks and urged the communist country to fulfil its obligations to end its nuclear programs.
Kurt Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East
Asia and Pacific affairs, also said other members of the
international community must ensure that UN Security Council
sanctions on the North are enacted while they seek ways to
resume dialogue.
"We think it is important to send a collective message to
North Korea that it`s not too late and we still wish them to
return to the six-party talks and to responsible
negotiations," Campbell said after holding talks with Japanese
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone.
The six-party talks came to a halt in April when North
Korea withdrew to protest a UN statement condemning what
Pyongyang described as a satellite launch.
Japan, the US and their allies said the launch was a
long-range missile test.
North Korea conducted its second underground nuclear test
in May, drawing further condemnation and sanctions.
Kim Yong Nam, the North`s No 2 official, this week said
Pyongyang was not ready to resume nuclear disarmament talks
because the US and its allies do not respect the country`s
sovereignty.
Bureau Report
