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South Korea says North Korea will return to talks
Seoul, Oct 02: North Korea wants to continue talks with the United States and others on its nuclear weapons programmes, despite its repeated statements that it is not interested in further negotiations, a senior South Korean official said today.
Seoul, Oct 02: North Korea wants to continue talks with the United States and others on its nuclear weapons programmes, despite its repeated statements that it is not interested in further negotiations, a senior South Korean official said today.
South Korea vice unification minister Cho Kun-Shik
said the North Korean comments were seen as a "tactic to
boost its negotiating power" when the talks resume.
"North Korea cannot oppose, nor is it in a position to oppose," resuming the six-nation talks that began in Beijing a month ago but stalled over differences between the United States and North Korea, Cho said.
"Based on our direct and indirect contacts with North Korean officials and our analysis, we believe that North Korea has a clear will to continue the talks," he added.
The United States, the two Koreas, China, Japan and Russia held their first round of negotiations in Beijing a month ago, but the meeting ended without agreement on when to hold the next round.
North Korea has since said it was no longer interested in further talks because Washington tried to use the meeting to disarm the isolated country. Washington and key Asian allies are trying to persuade Pyongyang to return to the table. Bureau Report
"North Korea cannot oppose, nor is it in a position to oppose," resuming the six-nation talks that began in Beijing a month ago but stalled over differences between the United States and North Korea, Cho said.
"Based on our direct and indirect contacts with North Korean officials and our analysis, we believe that North Korea has a clear will to continue the talks," he added.
The United States, the two Koreas, China, Japan and Russia held their first round of negotiations in Beijing a month ago, but the meeting ended without agreement on when to hold the next round.
North Korea has since said it was no longer interested in further talks because Washington tried to use the meeting to disarm the isolated country. Washington and key Asian allies are trying to persuade Pyongyang to return to the table. Bureau Report