South Korea calls for direct US-North Korea talks to resolve non-nuclear issues (AP) Updated: 2005-12-05 14:06
South Korea's top official responsible for relations with North Korea urged
the United States on Monday to hold direct talks with the North to resolve
concerns over its missile development, human rights abuses and other non-nuclear
issues, a report said Monday.
The remarks by Unification Minister Chung Dong-young reflected concerns that
a deepening row between Washington and North Korea over U.S. sanctions
against the country could undermine six-nation talks on ending the North's
nuclear programs.
Non-nuclear complaints by the United States against North Korea "should be
solved by bilateral talks between the two parties," Chung told a forum,
according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. "As the six-party talks focus on
resolving the nuclear issue, other matters should be separated from the
six-party issue."
Chung listed the North's missiles, biochemical and conventional weapons and
human rights abuses, as well as its alleged involvement in drug trafficking and
counterfeiting of money, as among the major non-nuclear issues.
The U.S. has so far showed no willingness to separate the nuclear and
non-nuclear issues, discussing both at the six-nation talks. It has also
rejected the North's demand for one-on-one negotiations, saying all countries in
the region must be involved in efforts to get it to disarm.
The latest round of six-party talks _ involving the two Koreas, the United
States, China, Russia and Japan _ recessed in November with no signs of
progress. Participants agreed to meet again soon, but a date hasn't been set.
Prospects for a resumption of the negotiations dimmed last week after North
Korea reacted angrily to financial sanctions imposed by Washington over alleged
counterfeiting and money laundering. North Korea had warned that such actions
could affect the nuclear talks.
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