Seoul sees North Korea nuclear talks resuming in July (Agencies) Updated: 2005-07-06 11:53
Seoul expects talks on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programs to
resume this month, South Korea's foreign minister said on Wednesday, and he
called on Pyongyang to set a firm date to return to the table.
Diplomatic hopes were raised for the stalled six-party talks to resume after
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il told a South Korean envoy last month Pyongyang
could return in July if the United States met certain conditions, such as
showing respect.
"A lot of effort has been made to create favorable conditions for the North's
participation in the six-party talks. We believe North Korea knows that, and we
expect the resumption of the talks in July," Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon told
reporters.
"I believe it is desirable for North Korea to pick a date now and return to
the talks at an early time," Ban said.
He said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's trip to East Asia, which is
scheduled to start on Friday, would help add momentum to resuming the talks.
Rice will discuss the talks with Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo, a State Department
official said.
North Korea said in February it possessed nuclear weapons and was boycotting
the talks that include North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the
United States.
|
| | Space shuttle Discovery launch delayed | | | | | Blair plans measures to uproot extremism | | | | | Pakistan train crash carnage kills 128 | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top World
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|