SEOUL: US ambassador to the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Thursday revealed goals her country is expecting to meet during an upcoming bilateral dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang, noting that it is aimed to secure the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s reaffirmation of a 2005 six-party agreement.
While addressing a forum here, Kathleen Stephens said the dialogue will "take place in the context of the six-party talks with the purpose of facilitating early resumption of the six-party talks," according to the country's Yonhap News Agency.
US nuclear envoy Stephen Bosworth is expected to travel to Pyongyang on December 8 to discuss the DPRK's return to the stalled international nuclear disarmament talks, which also involves China, Japan, the ROK and Russia.
The bilateral talks will focus on securing DPRK's reaffirmation of the Joint Statement of September 19 2005, which was reached during the fourth round of the six-party, the US top diplomat said.
Stephens appreciated the "close cooperation" between Washington and Seoul in this regard, saying that her country will continue cooperation with other countries involved in the six-party talks in the future.
The Joint Statement calls for the DPRK to abandon its nuclear program in return for economic aid, diplomatic recognition and establishment of a permanent peace regime to replace the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.
Meanwhile, Stephens also said the issue of US troops in the ROK will not be among the topics of the bilateral talks with Pyongyang.
"We've always been clear that when we talk about the peace regime, or peace treaty, peace agreement, the issue of the US-ROK alliance is not on the table," she said, noting "that is a lasting commitment we have, and that is not on the table."