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South Korea President urges North to take six-nation talks opportunity
Seoul, Aug 15: South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun today urged North Korea to grab the opportunity presented by upcoming six-nation talks to resolve the 10-month crisis over its nuclear weapons program.
Seoul, Aug 15: South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun today urged North Korea to grab the opportunity presented by upcoming six-nation talks to resolve the 10-month crisis over its nuclear weapons program.
Roh expressed optimism the August 27-29 talks in Beijing could lead to a breakthrough in the dragging stand-off, in a speech to mark South Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule 58 years ago.
"Luckily, we begin to see signs of a solution to the problem caused by the North's nuclear program," Roh said. "North Korea should not miss this opportunity."
The United States, Japan, China, Russia and the two Koreas have agreed to take part in the talks after weeks of wrangling over a dialogue format.
The South Korean leader said if North Korea dropped its nuclear ambitions, South Korea would help to rebuild the communist state's devastated economy.
"It must dismantle its nuclear program and open itself up successfully. Nuclear weapons can never become a shield to protect its system. On the contrary, the program will cause further isolation and crisis."
He renewed his call for a peaceful end to the stand-off and called for an early settlement.
"The North Korean nuclear issue should be resolved as early as possible. It has to be settled peacefully at all costs," he said.
Bureau Report
Roh expressed optimism the August 27-29 talks in Beijing could lead to a breakthrough in the dragging stand-off, in a speech to mark South Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule 58 years ago.
"Luckily, we begin to see signs of a solution to the problem caused by the North's nuclear program," Roh said. "North Korea should not miss this opportunity."
The United States, Japan, China, Russia and the two Koreas have agreed to take part in the talks after weeks of wrangling over a dialogue format.
The South Korean leader said if North Korea dropped its nuclear ambitions, South Korea would help to rebuild the communist state's devastated economy.
"It must dismantle its nuclear program and open itself up successfully. Nuclear weapons can never become a shield to protect its system. On the contrary, the program will cause further isolation and crisis."
He renewed his call for a peaceful end to the stand-off and called for an early settlement.
"The North Korean nuclear issue should be resolved as early as possible. It has to be settled peacefully at all costs," he said.
Bureau Report