Seoul: The US ambassador to South Korea
has said that her country has no intention of toppling North
Korea's regime by force, and is willing to discuss the issue
if the stalled six-party nuclear talks resume.
The comments by Kathleen Stephens came a day after North
Korea said it would continue to bolster its nuclear arms
development if the US does not drop what Pyongyang called
military threats and provocations.
"The United States has no hostile intent towards the
people of North Korea nor are we threatening to change the
North Korean regime through force," Stephens yesterday told a
forum in Seoul.
Stephens said despite the bitter criticism in recent
days, North Korea has shown "some positive signs" indicating
its willingness to return to the six-party talks on its
nuclear ambitions.
"The language has become more positive," she said adding,
"We need to see actions."
North Korea has said it will return to the six-party
talks -- which also include the US, South Korea, Russia, Japan
and China -- only if the UN lifts its sanctions on the country
and the US launches separate talks aimed at formally ending
the 1950-53 Korean War.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 17:35