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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Top U.S. envoy: everything possible if N. Korea denuclearizes |
| 2010-03-04 |
| SEOUL, March 4 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. ambassador to South Korea urged North Korea on Thursday to immediately return to six-nation nuclear negotiations without any conditions, saying its demands for a peace treaty and the removal of U.N. sanctions can only be available after its return to the talks. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens also said that everything will be possible for the communist nation, including its long-held goal of establishing diplomatic relations with Washington, if Pyongyang returns to the negotiating table and gives up its nuclear programs. "North Korea needs to return to the denuclearization talks and fulfill its commitments," she said at a Seoul forum. The U.S. ambassador here said the U.S. and its allies have already made clear to North Korea that they will not negotiate a peace treaty with a country that continues to develop nuclear weapons. "We want to see a peaceful unification (of South and North Korea), one that is consistent with the hope of the Korean people. But that means no nuclear weapons in North Korea and no nuclear weapons in South Korea," the U.S. diplomat told the breakfast meeting. "We need to find a way to hasten the day when Korea will be whole, free and at peace," she added. Stephens stressed the need for her country and South Korea to work closely together. "I think we are working as closely together as we ever have on this big challenge ... the need to work together is stronger than they ever have been," she said. The U.S. diplomat noted the ongoing tension between the U.S. and China may have some adverse effect on the countries' joint efforts to denuclearize North Korea, but said all the countries remained committed to the common goal and that they will not be distracted by other issues. "I think China understands the importance of working closely with both of us (South Korea and the U.S.). We have bilateral issues, but the work on North Korea is too important and we will not be distracted," Stephens said. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #2 Yep, Joe. Exactly what it is. |
| Posted by: Phomoger Guelph7895 2010-03-04 16:33 |
| #1 OTOH FREEREPUBLIC > NORTH KOREAN ARMY RUNNING OUT OF FOOD, SOLDIERS TOLD/ORDERED TO SLEEP THAN DO TRAINING [malnutrition rising fast in DPRK armed forces]??? Going AWOL = searching for food??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-03-04 02:11 |