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U.S. President George W. Bush avoided provoking North Korea during Friday¡¯s summit with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, steering clear of descriptions of the Stalinist country as an ¡°outpost of tyranny¡± or any reference to sanctions. Bush called the North Korean leader ¡°Mr. Kim Jong-il,¡± an appellation the North appears to consider an honorific, and mentioned improving relations between North and South Korea.
Observers interpret this as Washington giving Pyongyang ¡°one last chance,¡± in the words of Prof. Je Seong-ho of Chung-ang University. Prof. Hyeon In-taek of Korea University said things could get difficult if North Korea rejects even these signals. Former foreign minister Hong Soon-young called the summit ¡°a grave moment in resolving the nuclear issue¡± but warned, ¡°From now on, our government must prepare for all eventualities.¡±
North Korea may not have much time. June 26 marks one year since six-party talks on its nuclear program were suspended, and some reports in the international press suggest the U.S. has given North Korea until mid-July to return to talks.
Bush reportedly said during the summit it was difficult to understand why North Korea felt threatened by the U.S., which has said on numerous occasions that it will not attack. He also reconfirmed that the nuclear dispute can be resolved diplomatically.
Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said working-level talks will discuss responses in case North Korea continues to boycott talks. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill visits Seoul on Tuesday to discuss follow-up measures to the summit, apparently with Vice Foreign Minister Song Min-soon, who heads Korea¡¯s delegation to the six-party talks.
Korea and the U.S. are also considering a plan, should North Korea return to the six-party talks, to convene the next round of discussions for several weeks until a conclusion has been reached in order to ensure the effective conduct of negotiations.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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