ID :
31023
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 09:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/31023
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Obama to engage N. Korea directly without preconditions: policy report
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- The incoming Barack Obama administration will
engage North Korea directly without preconditions to persuade the communist state
to abandon its nuclear ambitions, according to a policy plan issued by the
presidential team Tuesday.
"Obama and Biden will pursue tough, direct diplomacy without preconditions with
all nations, friend and foes," said the Obama-Biden Plan posted in the Web site
of the transition team. "They will do the careful preparation necessary, but will
signal that America is ready to come to the table and is willing to lead."
The policy direction is in line with Obama's campaign pledge that he will meet
with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il without any conditions attached.
Obama dismissed Republican rival John McCain's criticism at a presidential debate
last month that it is naive to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il without
preconditions, saying Bush's reluctance to deal directly with North Korea
resulted in the North's detonation of its first nuclear device in 2006 and the
quadrupling of its nuclear weapons to eight by the end of Bush's eight years in
office.
Obama will likely send a prominent figure as his special envoy to Pyongyang soon
after his inauguration on Jan. 20 to prepare for a possible visit there himself
to make a breakthrough in the on-and-off multilateral nuclear talks that began in
2003, according to some reports and analysts.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak Sunday supported Obama meeting with North
Korean leader Kim Jong-il to persuade the North to abandon its nuclear ambitions,
saying "It would be better for President-elect Obama to meet with Chairman Kim
Jong-il personally if it is helpful to North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear
weapons."
The Obama-Biden Plan also said that "If America is willing to come to the table,
the world will be more willing to rally behind American leadership to deal with
challenges like confronting terrorism and Iran and North Korea's nuclear
programs."
The plan suggested that the Obama administration will "use tough diplomacy --
backed by real incentives and real pressures -- to prevent Iran from acquiring
nuclear weapons and to eliminate fully and verifiably North Korea's nuclear
weapons program."
In one form of pressure, the Obama government "will crack down on nuclear
proliferation by strengthening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty so that
countries like North Korea and Iran that break the rules will automatically face
strong international sanctions," it said.
"Obama and Biden will forge a more effective framework in Asia that goes beyond
bilateral agreements, occasional summits, and ad hoc arrangements, such as the
six-party talks on North Korea," it added.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- The incoming Barack Obama administration will
engage North Korea directly without preconditions to persuade the communist state
to abandon its nuclear ambitions, according to a policy plan issued by the
presidential team Tuesday.
"Obama and Biden will pursue tough, direct diplomacy without preconditions with
all nations, friend and foes," said the Obama-Biden Plan posted in the Web site
of the transition team. "They will do the careful preparation necessary, but will
signal that America is ready to come to the table and is willing to lead."
The policy direction is in line with Obama's campaign pledge that he will meet
with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il without any conditions attached.
Obama dismissed Republican rival John McCain's criticism at a presidential debate
last month that it is naive to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il without
preconditions, saying Bush's reluctance to deal directly with North Korea
resulted in the North's detonation of its first nuclear device in 2006 and the
quadrupling of its nuclear weapons to eight by the end of Bush's eight years in
office.
Obama will likely send a prominent figure as his special envoy to Pyongyang soon
after his inauguration on Jan. 20 to prepare for a possible visit there himself
to make a breakthrough in the on-and-off multilateral nuclear talks that began in
2003, according to some reports and analysts.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak Sunday supported Obama meeting with North
Korean leader Kim Jong-il to persuade the North to abandon its nuclear ambitions,
saying "It would be better for President-elect Obama to meet with Chairman Kim
Jong-il personally if it is helpful to North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear
weapons."
The Obama-Biden Plan also said that "If America is willing to come to the table,
the world will be more willing to rally behind American leadership to deal with
challenges like confronting terrorism and Iran and North Korea's nuclear
programs."
The plan suggested that the Obama administration will "use tough diplomacy --
backed by real incentives and real pressures -- to prevent Iran from acquiring
nuclear weapons and to eliminate fully and verifiably North Korea's nuclear
weapons program."
In one form of pressure, the Obama government "will crack down on nuclear
proliferation by strengthening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty so that
countries like North Korea and Iran that break the rules will automatically face
strong international sanctions," it said.
"Obama and Biden will forge a more effective framework in Asia that goes beyond
bilateral agreements, occasional summits, and ad hoc arrangements, such as the
six-party talks on North Korea," it added.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
