The South Korean government has effectively decided to resume rice and fertilizer aid to North Korea if the North freezes its nuclear program in the next round of six-party talks, which opens Thursday. After a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by President Roh Moo-hyun, the chief secretary for security policy Baek Jong-chun told reporters resumption of rice and fertilizer aid “can be discussed at an appropriate time from a humanitarian point of view if the six party nuclear talks make headway” and inter-Korean meetings resume. Other government officials said the South is bent on the resumption of aid to the North by way of inter-Korean ministerial agreement once Pyongyang has agreed to freeze its nuclear program.

Seoul suspended rice and fertilizer aid over the North’s missile and nuclear tests in July and October. A senior government official hinted the major issue at the six party-party talks in Beijing is to discuss what the participants will give North Korea in return for dismantling of its nuclear program. He said it would be “more difficult” for the five countries -- South Korea, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia -- to agree on the matter than to deal with North Korea. He told reporters the five must discuss any rewards even though a statement of principles agreed in September 2005 already stipulates energy aid.

(englishnews@chosun.com )