DRPK Accepts Six-way Nuclear Talks: S.Korean Official

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, August 01, 2003

DRPK Accepts Six-way Nuclear Talks: S.Korean Official

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Pyongyang has accepted multilateral talks on the nuclear issue, said South Korean Assistant Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuk on Friday afternoon.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) informed South Korean Foreign Ministry on Thursday that it agreed to attend multilateral talks, he told a press conference.

Pyongyang previously insisted talks be held between the United States and the DPRK. Its acceptance of six-party talks is viewed as a turning point after the nuclear crisis erupted late last year.

Lee said Pyongyang would attend the talks without "adding any important pre-conditions."

"Pyongyang agreed to accept the six-party format which means itrealized the nuclear issue is the one not just between Washington and Pyongyang," he said.

It was seen here as unusual that Pyongyang informed Seoul of its decision. "It may because during the inter-Korean ministeral meeting, South Korean Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun called on several times the DPRK delegation to accept the multilateral format to solve the nuclear issue," said the South Korean official.

But it is still unknown where and when the multilateral talks will be held.

Meanwhile, South Korean Foreign Minster Young Yoon-kwan met with US Ambassador Thomas Hubbard earlier Friday to discuss the current situation after Pyongyang's acceptance of the multilateral format which is preferred by Washington.

Japan, US, S.Korea to strengthen consultation for 6-way talks

Japan, the United States and South Korea will strengthen consultation for proposed multilateral talks on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear program, said a senior Japanese diplomat Friday.

"Japan and the US will cooperate to deal with the issue," KyodoNews quoted Senior Vice Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi as saying, following his meeting with visiting John Bolton, US undersecretary of state for arms control and international security.

In a meeting Thursday with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister YuriFedotov, The DPRK's ambassador to Russia Pak Ui Chun said the DPRKsupports holding six-party talks to settle its nuclear standoff with the United States. The six nations include China, the United States, Russia, the DPRK, South Korea and Japan.

Motegi and Bolton both welcomed the DPRK's intention and agreedthat senior officials of Japan, the United States and South Korea will meet to prepare for the talks, said Kyodo.

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