US Urged to Start Direct Talks with DPRK

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 13, 2003

US Urged to Start Direct Talks with DPRK

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Former US ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson urged the Bush administration Sunday to start direct talks with the Democratic People's Republicof Korea (DPRK) to settle their differences over the DPRK's nuclear issue.

"What I think the administration needs to do, with all the due respect, is just pick up the phone, start the preliminary talks atthe UN (United Nations) in New York at a low level to set up broader talks," Richardson said in an interview with ABC's "This Week" program.

Richardson, now governor of New Mexico, just wound up three days of informal talks Saturday with Han Song Ryol, DPRK deputy ambassador to the United Nations, and another DPRK diplomat at hisgubernatorial residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

"It's important that direct talks happen. I can't stress how important that is," Richardson stressed.

The former US diplomat believed that the Bush administration may soon take steps to begin low-level technical discussions with the DPRK, which would lead to "more substantive talks at higher levels."

According to Richardson, the DPRK envoys told him in the informal talks in Santa Fe that the DPRK is ready to settle its differences with the United States about the nuclear issue, but only after a negotiation.

The Bush administration said last Wednesday that it was willingto talk with the DPRK about how the Asian country can live up its obligations but insisted that there be no negotiations.

Speaking to reporters after talks with DPRK envoys Saturday, Richardson described the consultations as "positive" and "constructive" which helped ease the tension about the DPRK's nuclear issue.

He said he had fully briefed US Secretary of State Colin Powellon his discussions with the DPRK envoys.

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