Russia, South Korea Pledge Joint Efforts over DPRK Nuclear Tension

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 06, 2003

Russia, South Korea Pledge Joint Efforts over DPRK Nuclear Tension

Russia and South Korea on Sunday pledged joint efforts in defusing tension over the nuclear bid of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

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Russia and South Korea on Sunday pledged joint efforts in defusing tension over the nuclear bid of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov made the statement after a two-hour meeting with his South Korean counterpart Kim Hang-kyung.

Losykov said he and Kim found much in common in their countries' approaches and assessments to the DPRK's situation.

"Both Moscow and Seoul believe it would be better to discuss the problem in a calm and negotiating atmosphere in order to avoida disaster."

The two sides also agreed that the situation around the DPRK should not be intensified and there was no need to submit the question to the UN Security Council before other possibilities fornegotiation have been used up, said the deputy minister.

Losykov said they discussed some options to solve the crisis during the closed-door consultation, but did not give details.

Kim arrived here Saturday for consultations with top Russian officials on ways to defuse tension over the DPEK nuclear bid. "Russia's good relations with the DPRK could help create an efficient channel for dialogue," Kim said before the talks with Losykov, according to the Itar-tass news agency.

The standoff began in early December, when the DPRK announced the resumption of its nuclear facilities to produce electricity because the United States had halted fuel deliveries in violation of a 1994 agreement. It has removed monitoring seals and cameras from its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon and expelled U.N. inspectors.

South Korean has urged Pyongyang to first scrap its nuclear weapons program to open the way for dialogue with the United States.

The DPRK says it is willing to resolve concerns over its nuclear program if the United States signs a nonaggression treaty,but Washington has ruled out any talks before Pyongyang changes course.

"That means that other solutions should be sought so that the DPRK doesn't feel insecure and will be able to make a welcome stepand give up its nuclear program," Interfax quoted Losyukov as saying.

The minister said that Russia and China are in a good position to help reach a compromise through their contacts with the DPRK.

"The positions of the sides must be clarified at the diplomaticlevel, quietly and without panic, and attempts should be made to create an atmosphere favorable for settling the crisis and initiating talks between the main parties," Losyukov was quoted bythe Interfax news agency.

"But I wouldn't describe this as mediation. I would call this 'multi-vector diplomacy,' said the diplomat, "very much will dependon a dialogue between the DPRK and the United States."

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