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US Needs to First Consult with Seoul on DPRK: Powell
Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Tuesday that the new US administration plans to continue engagement with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), but has to consult with South Korea first.
"We do plan to engage with North Korea (DPRK) to pick up where President (Bill) Clinton and his administration left off. Some promising elements were left on the table, and we'll be examining those elements," Powell said at a joint press conference with visiting Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh.
"We haven't begun that consultative process yet with the North Koreans (people of DPRK) because we thought it was important to first talk to our South Korean friends," he added.
He said Washington wants to make sure that its policy towards the DPRK is "totally synchronized" with what South Korea is doing.
Powell made the remarks on the eve of a summit between South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung and US President George W. Bush in Washington on Wednesday.
US Not Avoiding DPRKPowell said Tuesday that the new administration is not avoiding the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), but intends to consult with Seoul first before continuing an engagement policy with the DPRK.
US Has Lot to Offer for DPRKOn the eve of a US-South Korean summit, US Secretary of State Colin Powell suggested on Tuesday that Washington would be prepared to make concessions if the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) acts in " constructive" ways.
"We think we have a lot to offer that regime (DPRK), if they will act in ways that we think are constructive, ways that reduce the threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missiles ...," Powell said.
He said the new US administration plans to engage with DPRK and pick up where former President Bill Clinton and his administration left off on the missile issues.
"We are not avoiding North Korea (DPRK); quite the contrary," Powell told reporters.
But he stressed that it was important for Washington to first talk to South Korea to synchronize their polices.
"In due course, you'll hear about our plans, but all of that will flow from the meetings with (South Korean) President Kim Dae- Jung tomorrow," Powell said.
Kim, who arrived here Tuesday afternoon, is expected to meet with President George W. Bush on Wednesday.
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