U.S. envoy calls for N.K. return to 6-way talks

Kathleen Stephens, the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, yesterday called for North Korea to immediately return to the six-party talks on its denuclearization, saying the path to dialogue remains open.

"North Korea needs to return to the denuclearization talks and fulfill its commitments," Stephens said at a forum hosted by Far East Broadcasting Company.

She also said no conditions can be attached to the resumption of the nuclear dialogue.

By pledging and commiting to denuclearization, the ambassador said Pyongyang may expect to gain from denuclearization, including official diplomatic relations with Washington.

"All are possible," she said.

South Korea and the United States have both indicated that they are willing to offer extensive economic and political benefits as a quid pro quo for complete and irreversible denuclearization.

Stephens stressed that the allies need to work together to continue facing the challenge of ending Pyongyang`s nuclear weapons programs.

The North has been boycotting the six-way discussions since last April when the United Nations denounced its rocket launch. In May, Pyongyang defied international warnings to conduct its second nuclear test.

Pyongyang has since faced stringent U.N. sanctions that some believe may have caused the North to engage in its latest string of reconcilatory moves, indicating it may return to the nuclear talks.

North Korea`s chief nuclear envoy Kim Gye-gwan is reportedly seeking a rendezvous with U.S. officials to fine-tune the details or conditions of its comeback.

Pyongyang has so far yet to budge from the latest precondition for resuming the denuclearization talks - scrapping the U.N. sanctions.

Even if the six-way talks resume, the North is calling for talks on a peace treaty to come before actual discussions on denuclearization.

The U.S. ambassador yesterday emphasized that the allies would not negotiate a peace treaty with a nation developing nuclear weapons.

"We want to see a peaceful unification (of South and North Korea), one that is consistent with the hope of the Korean people. But that means no nuclear weapons in North Korea and no nuclear weapons in South Korea," she said.

The latest 2005 agreement states that a peace treaty may be negotiated in a separate forum outside the six-way framework. But this can happen only following substantial denuclearization progress.

Stephens said recent tension between the United States and China on bilateral issues may adversely affect their efforts to end the North`s nuclear weapons programs, but added that those involved in the process remain committed to their common goal.

China, as chair and long-time ally of the North, is considered to be one of the most critical partners in the six-way negotiations.

January`s visit to Pyongyang by Wang Jiarui, head of international relations at China`s Communist Party, was cited by many as having spurred the recent progress in resuming the multilateral talks.

Touching on the U.S.-South Korea alliance, Stephens noted the strength of the relationship, but also called for further efforts to continue fostering good relations.

(jemmie@heraldm.com)

By Kim Ji-hyun