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South Korea And U.S. Stay Firm on Talks With North South Korea And U.S. Stay Firm on Talks With North
(about 4 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — Despite the recent easing of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, top American and South Korean nuclear negotiators reaffirmed on Tuesday that there would be no formal negotiations with North Korea until it showed that it was willing to dismantle its nuclear weapons programs.SEOUL, South Korea — Despite the recent easing of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, top American and South Korean nuclear negotiators reaffirmed on Tuesday that there would be no formal negotiations with North Korea until it showed that it was willing to dismantle its nuclear weapons programs.
“We need to see some sign that they are sincere about what is the central issue of the six-party process, which is the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” said Glyn T. Davies, Washington’s top envoy to talks among six nations that have been suspended since late 2008. “Right now, we do not see a positive attitude of North Korea.”“We need to see some sign that they are sincere about what is the central issue of the six-party process, which is the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” said Glyn T. Davies, Washington’s top envoy to talks among six nations that have been suspended since late 2008. “Right now, we do not see a positive attitude of North Korea.”
The six-nation forum, which includes North and South Korea, Japan, Russia and China, was started in 2003 with the aim of ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons development. As tensions have eased on the peninsula in recent months, there have been efforts, notably from China, host of the talks, to resume them.The six-nation forum, which includes North and South Korea, Japan, Russia and China, was started in 2003 with the aim of ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons development. As tensions have eased on the peninsula in recent months, there have been efforts, notably from China, host of the talks, to resume them.
Mr. Davies met with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yong, on Tuesday here in Seoul. He plans to visit Beijing and Tokyo this week to continue the discussions on how to bring the North back to the negotiating table under the terms set down by Washington and its allies.Mr. Davies met with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yong, on Tuesday here in Seoul. He plans to visit Beijing and Tokyo this week to continue the discussions on how to bring the North back to the negotiating table under the terms set down by Washington and its allies.
Tensions rose on the peninsula this year, punctuated by the North’s nuclear test in February, a tightening of sanctions by the United Nations Security Council and the North’s threats of nuclear strikes. But in recent months, they have gradually given way to hopes for dialogue, as the North toned down its warlike rhetoric, restored military hot lines with the South and agreed to restart a jointly run industrial complex, as well as a Red Cross program that reunites Korean families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. Tensions rose on the peninsula this year, punctuated by the North’s nuclear test in February, a tightening of sanctions by the United Nations Security Council and the North’s threats of nuclear strikes. But in recent months, they have gradually given way to hopes for dialogue, as the North toned down its warlike rhetoric, restored military hot lines with the South and agreed to restart a jointly run industrial complex after a trial run that is to start on Monday, as well as a Red Cross program that reunites Korean families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.
While officials in the South welcomed the mellowing mood, they cautioned that their challenge remained unchanged: the North has shown no sign of curbing its nuclear weapons program.While officials in the South welcomed the mellowing mood, they cautioned that their challenge remained unchanged: the North has shown no sign of curbing its nuclear weapons program.
That left officials in the South and the United States to suspect that North Korea’s recent overtures were merely a replay of its old tactic of creating optimism after tensions. They fear that North Korea is once again trying to trick Washington and the others into negotiating — and eventually haggling — with it in fruitless talks while the country continues to advance its nuclear and long-range missile programs. That left officials in the South and the United States to suspect that North Korea’s recent overtures were merely a replay of its old tactic of creating optimism after tensions. They fear that North Korea is once again trying to trick Washington and the others into negotiating with it in fruitless talks while the country continues to advance its nuclear and long-range missile programs.
“The central goal of six-party talks is denuclearization,” said Mr. Cho. “The six-party talks can resume only when that is made clear once again and when we determine that the talks can achieve the goal.” “The central goal of six-party talks is denuclearization,” said Mr. Cho, adding that the talks could resume only when the countries determine they can achieve that goal. But some analysts said Washington and its allies had few options other than engaging the North to gauge the intentions of its leader, Kim Jong-un. There have been no significant signs that sanctions are working to force the North to give up its nuclear weapons or that China is using its economic leverage to force a change in the North’s attitude about the weapons.
But some analysts said Washington and its allies had few options other than engaging the North to gauge the intentions of its leader, Kim Jong-un. There have been no significant signs that sanctions are working to force the North to give up its nuclear weapons or that China is using its economic leverage to force a change in the North’s attitude about the weapons.