US Says It Supports Dialogue with DPRK on Nuclear Issue

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, January 08, 2003

US Says It Supports Dialogue with DPRK on Nuclear Issue

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The Bush administration is willing to talk to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) but will not make concessions to Pyongyang in order to persuade it drop its nuclear programs, the State Department said on Tuesday.

"There is no security rationale for North Korea to possess nuclear weapons," said a joint statement after talks here among senior US, South Korean and Japanese diplomats.

"The US delegation explained that the United States is willing to talk to North Korea about how it will meet its obligations to the international community," the statement said.

"However, the US delegation stressed that the United States will not provide quid pro quos to North Korea to live up to its existing obligations," the statement said.

The talks at State Department were held under a framework on DPRK policy known as the Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group (TCOG).

Participants of the talks were US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs James Kelly, South Korean DeputyForeign Minister Lee Tae-shik and Japanese Foreign Ministry official Mitoji Yabunaka.

The statement also reiterated the three nations' intention to pursue a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the DPRK's nuclear issue and expressed serious concern over the recent steps taken byDPRK to lift its nuclear freeze.

"They stressed that North Korea's relations with the entire international community hinge on its taking prompt and verifiable action to completely dismantle its nuclear weapons program and come into full compliance with its international nuclear commitments," the statement said.

During their informal discussions on Monday, all three countries agreed that DPRK should end its nuclear program before the United States or any country can take further steps with Pyongyang, according to US officials.

DPRK last month removed seals and monitoring devices from its nuclear facilities which had been frozen and under the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) supervision since Pyongyang and Washington signed a nuclear framework agreement in Geneva in 1994.

Pyongyang said the move was designed to restart the nuclear facilities for power generation because the United States has violated the framework agreement by suspending shipments of heavy oil to the DPRK.

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