South Korea's Roh wants Korean peace treaty talks (Reuters) Updated: 2006-01-25 11:42
South Korea wants to begin discussions for a permanent peace treaty to
replace an armistice with North Korea, President Roh Moo-hyun said on Wednesday.
Roh agreed with U.S. President George W. Bush in November that peace treaty
talks should take place in parallel with ongoing negotiations to dismantle North
Korea's nuclear weapons programs.
"We will resolutely prepare for negotiations with related countries for the
establishment of a peace regime on the Korean peninsula," Roh said at a news
conference.
South and North Korea remain technically at war under a truce signed by the
North, the United States and China that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.
"We will also do our best to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue
peacefully," Roh said.
Six-country talks aimed at ending the North's nuclear ambitions in return for
aid, security assurances and improved diplomatic ties have hit a snag. The
last round was held in November.
Pyongyang has demanded the suspension of a U.S. crackdown on several firms
Washington suspects of involvement in illicit financial activities by the North
as a precondition to returning to the nuclear talks.
Roh also said South Korea would work with the United States to complete this
year a measure allowing South Korea to take over war-time command of its troops
from the U.S. military.
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