Despite North Korea's apparent warming toward the notion of multilateral dialogue to resolve its nuclear standoff with the United States, any such discussion is likely to be held back by arguments over which countries to include. South Korea prefers the so-called "two plus four" model, featuring the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia. But North Korea and China are opposing the participation of Japan and Russia, insisting that they are not directly related to security on the Korean Peninsula. "The North sees no reason for Japan and Russia to join the multilateral talks because it wants to discuss the abolition of the armistice pact and the signing of a non-aggression pact with the United States during the forum," said a ranking official at the Foreign Ministry.
The armistice agreement, which ended the 3-year Korean War in 1953, was signed by four combatants - UN, US, North Korea and China. "Instead, the North wants the European Union (EU) to participate in the multilateral forum in an apparent hope that EU may play a leading role in providing economic aid to Pyongyang," an official said. Seoul officials have said the multilateral talks, if opened, will incorporate not only the North's nuclear arms program but also the international community's economic support to the destitute communist country. The United States has wanted a broader multilateral setting to include both Koreas, five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Australia, Canada and EU. But Seoul officials said the North is uncomfortable with such a format.
Washington persistently rejected Pyongyang's demand for direct negotiations to address the nuclear standoff and discuss other security issues. In a significant turnaround, North Korea said Saturday it would consider any form of dialogue with the United States if Washington agrees on discussions about economic aid and security assurances. South Korea and the United States welcomed the North's softening of its demand for the bilateral talks, regarding it as a positive development in resolving the nuclear issue.
The nuclear dispute started after the United States said last October that the North admitted to having a nuclear program using enriched uranium. Since then, the North has expelled UN inspectors monitoring sealed nuclear reactors, declared that it was withdrawing from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and has begun to reactivate its nuclear plant. Pyongyang's changes in attitude came days after the US-led forces toppled the Saddam Hussein regime in a war which South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said had "petrified" the North.
| Like I say, each success is going to make subsequent successes easier. Two weeks ago the NKors were frothing at the mouth and threatening seas of fire. Today, they're frothing at the mouth and demanding negotiations. |
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