US, Japan, S.Korea End Informal Talks in Washington

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, July 04, 2003

US, Japan, S.Korea End Informal Talks in Washington

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Senior officials from the UnitedStates, Japan and South Korea on Thursday ended two days of informal talks which focused on the stalemate over the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"These were good discussions, useful discussions and consultations with our friends and allies in this effort to get North Korea (DPRK) to abandon its nuclear programs, and to do thatin a peaceful manner through multilateral discussions," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters.

Describing the two-day discussions as "a brainstorming session," Boucher said, "We found the exchange of ideas very useful and we'll continue to consult with them as we look to moving forward in this manner."

He noted that the consultation was not designed to produce particular decisions or conclusions.

The talks, which began here Wednesday, were originally planned for one day but the participants later decided to continue their discussions Thursday.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, both Boucher and other US officials stressed that the discussions did not constitute a formal meeting of the so-called Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group.

Senior diplomats from the United States, Japan and South Korea meet regularly to coordinate policies toward the Korean peninsula.

The participants to the two-day informal talks include US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs James Kelly, South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-Hyuck and director general of Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Mitoji Yabunaka.

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