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The White House on Friday declared itself ¡°somewhat hopeful¡± that North Korea will soon return to six-party talks on its nuclear program. Briefing reporters after a summit between the South Korean and U.S. presidents, spokesman Scott McClellan said Washington was grateful for Korea¡¯s support in urging Pyongyang back to the negotiating table.
He said the North Koreans must make a ¡°strategic decision that they're going to get rid of their nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons program.¡±
Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said the two leaders reaffirmed the offer of multilateral security guarantees and substantive aid, including energy, if North Korea gives up its atomic weapons program, with Washington and Pyongyang ultimately enjoying ¡°more normal relations.¡± The term ¡°more normal relations,¡± coined by U.S. President George W. Bush, seems to refer to initial steps on the road to establishing full diplomatic ties.
Asked if Bush and President Roh Moo-hyun discussed joint military and non-military measures they could take if North Korea makes matters worse, Ban only said, ¡°If I were to say that they discussed that, it wouldn¡¯t help the atmosphere for restarting the six-party talks.¡± He said working-level talks would continue.
Bush was quoted as endorsing progress in the inter-Korean relationship as a potential avenue for pressing for a resolution to the nuclear dispute ? an indication that he hopes South Korea will bring up the matter during its talks with the North.
The Korean National Security Council on Sunday welcomed ¡°President Bush¡¯s expression of a sincere position,¡± which it said will ¡°ultimately have a positive influence on getting North Korea to return to the six-party talks.¡±
Meanwhile, a Korean official said Seoul will brief Pyongyang on the outcome of the Korea-U.S. summit -- that Washington will consider multilateral security guarantees and energy aid to the North if it abandons its nuclear program ? either during inter-Korean ministerial contacts in Pyongyang from Tuesday to Thusday, or during ministerial talks in Seoul on June 21-24.
(Heo Yong-beom, heo@chosun.com )
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