ID :
21412
Fri, 09/26/2008 - 11:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/21412
The shortlink copeid
LEAD) S. Korea in no hurry over inter-Korean economic projects: minister
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign minister on Friday pressed North Korea to return to the denuclearization process, saying it is a basic precondition for expanding inter-Korean economic cooperation.
"It is a difficult situation (in which) the six-way talks (on ending the nuclear
crisis) may be back to square one, rather than making progress," Yu said at a
lecture for alumni from Seoul National University.
A few hours earlier, he flew back from a trip to the U.S., where he discussed the
nuclear issue with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Chinese Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi.
Yu emphasized that continued diplomatic efforts are needed to deal with North
Korea's move to resume weapons-grade plutonium production.
The six-way accord agreed upon last year has showed signs of regressing in recent
weeks. North Korea has barred U.N. nuclear inspectors from its nuclear
reprocessing facility in Yonbgyon and threatened to re-load nuclear material into
the plant.
The North's latest measure was a serious setback to efforts by Pyongyang's
dialogue partners to wrap up the second of the three-tier process by the end of
this year, 12 months behind the original schedule. The six-way talks also involve
South Korea, the U.S., China, Russia, and Japan.
In the second phase, the communist nation is supposed to disable its Yongbyon
nuclear facilities and fully account for its atomic weapons program. In return, it
was to receive one million tonnes of fuel oil or equivalent aid and gain removal
from the U.S. list of terrorism-sponsoring nations. Half of the energy aid has
been delivered to the North. In the third last stage, Pyongyang would dismantle
its nuclear program, materials, and weapons.
The North has already done its end promised in the current stage but the U.S.
calls for Pyongyang to cooperate in verifying its nuclear declaration to be
removed from the blacklist.
"The (South Korean) government has a plan to actively pursue economic
cooperation with North Korea when the second phase is completed in a
irreversible way," Yu Myung-hwan "The current government is putting a higher
priority on the nuclear issue than the previous one did."
The minister pointed out that the North might be waiting for the next U.S.
government.
"But there is no big difference between Barack Obama or John McCain in their
respective stances towards North Korea, although there could be a gap in ways to
push for dialogue," he said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign minister on Friday pressed North Korea to return to the denuclearization process, saying it is a basic precondition for expanding inter-Korean economic cooperation.
"It is a difficult situation (in which) the six-way talks (on ending the nuclear
crisis) may be back to square one, rather than making progress," Yu said at a
lecture for alumni from Seoul National University.
A few hours earlier, he flew back from a trip to the U.S., where he discussed the
nuclear issue with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Chinese Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi.
Yu emphasized that continued diplomatic efforts are needed to deal with North
Korea's move to resume weapons-grade plutonium production.
The six-way accord agreed upon last year has showed signs of regressing in recent
weeks. North Korea has barred U.N. nuclear inspectors from its nuclear
reprocessing facility in Yonbgyon and threatened to re-load nuclear material into
the plant.
The North's latest measure was a serious setback to efforts by Pyongyang's
dialogue partners to wrap up the second of the three-tier process by the end of
this year, 12 months behind the original schedule. The six-way talks also involve
South Korea, the U.S., China, Russia, and Japan.
In the second phase, the communist nation is supposed to disable its Yongbyon
nuclear facilities and fully account for its atomic weapons program. In return, it
was to receive one million tonnes of fuel oil or equivalent aid and gain removal
from the U.S. list of terrorism-sponsoring nations. Half of the energy aid has
been delivered to the North. In the third last stage, Pyongyang would dismantle
its nuclear program, materials, and weapons.
The North has already done its end promised in the current stage but the U.S.
calls for Pyongyang to cooperate in verifying its nuclear declaration to be
removed from the blacklist.
"The (South Korean) government has a plan to actively pursue economic
cooperation with North Korea when the second phase is completed in a
irreversible way," Yu Myung-hwan "The current government is putting a higher
priority on the nuclear issue than the previous one did."
The minister pointed out that the North might be waiting for the next U.S.
government.
"But there is no big difference between Barack Obama or John McCain in their
respective stances towards North Korea, although there could be a gap in ways to
push for dialogue," he said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
