|
U.S. and North Korean officials met in New York on Monday at Pyongyang¡¯s request to discuss its return to six-party nuclear disarmament talks, but no date was set. It was the second meeting between officials from the two sides in as many months at North Korea¡¯s UN mission.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack confirmed that the department¡¯s North Korea envoy Joseph DiTrani and Korean Affairs director James Foster met with UN Ambassador Pak Gil-yon and Deputy Ambassador Han Song-ryol. McCormack avoided mentioning specifics, saying only the meeting was part of "procedural contacts."
Quoting U.S. and Asian officials, the Washington Post reported North Korea told the U.S. it ¡°is committed to returning to stalled negotiations on its nuclear ambitions but declined to set a date for new talks." The officials said North Korea's message was "neither negative nor positive," while a high-ranking Asian official said it was "nothing spectacular."
The meeting comes just four days ahead of the South Korea-U.S. summit and amid rumors that North Korea is getting ready to return to the six-party talks. The State Department reportedly briefed the Korean Embassy in Washington on Monday¡¯s New York contacts.
Even if it avoided a specific commitment, it seems clear Pyongyang told Washington of conditions that would have to be met for it to return to the negotiating table. The question now is how that will influence the direction Washington and Seoul determine for their North Korea policy at the upcoming summit. White House spokesman Scott McClellan on Monday only said, "We continue to urge North Korea to return to the six-party talks at an early date without precondition."
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
