China to hold strategic talks with North Korea
Source: AFP |
June 18, 2013, Tuesday
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CHINA says it will hold a strategic dialogue with North Korea this week following Pyongyang's surprise offer of new talks with the United States.
Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui will meet North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan tomorrow in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters at a regularly scheduled briefing.
Hua said the two will discuss bilateral relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
"China has been paying close attention to developments on the peninsula, and has been actively working toward the early resumption of dialogue and negotiation by all sides," Hua said, referring to long-stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament talks hosted by China that include South Korea, Japan, Russia, the US and North Korea.
North Korea surprised many on Sunday by proposing "senior-level" talks with the US to ease tensions and negotiate a formal peace treaty ending the Korean War, which concluded only with an armistice.
The Obama administration said on Sunday it is open to dialogue, but wants "credible negotiations" that involve Pyongyang compliance with UN resolutions and would lead to a nuclear-free North Korea.
The proposal is expected to be discussed in meetings this week in Washington by US, Japanese and South Korean officials.
Last month a top North Korean envoy visited Beijing and stated that Pyongyang is willing to take steps to return to talks.Vice Marshal Choe Ryong Hae was quoted as saying Pyongyang is "willing to take active measures in this regard."
Hua said she hopes all sides concerned will keep their overall interests in mind and create conditions for the early resumption of the six-party talks.
South Korea yesterday joined the United States in insisting that rival North Korea take "concrete" steps towards abandoning its nuclear weapons.
South Korea's Unification Ministry, which deals with inter-Korean relations, made it clear that Seoul and Washington were firmly on the same page.
"I'd like to explain our stance by repeating the comments from the White House that the window of dialogue is open but that North Korea should take concrete steps first," said ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-Seok.
The last senior-level talks between North Korea and the United States in February 2012 resulted in a deal for supplies of US food aid in exchange for a moratorium on missile and nuclear tests. The agreement collapsed almost immediately when North Korea unsuccessfully launched a long-range rocket the following month.
Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui will meet North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan tomorrow in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters at a regularly scheduled briefing.
Hua said the two will discuss bilateral relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
"China has been paying close attention to developments on the peninsula, and has been actively working toward the early resumption of dialogue and negotiation by all sides," Hua said, referring to long-stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament talks hosted by China that include South Korea, Japan, Russia, the US and North Korea.
North Korea surprised many on Sunday by proposing "senior-level" talks with the US to ease tensions and negotiate a formal peace treaty ending the Korean War, which concluded only with an armistice.
The Obama administration said on Sunday it is open to dialogue, but wants "credible negotiations" that involve Pyongyang compliance with UN resolutions and would lead to a nuclear-free North Korea.
The proposal is expected to be discussed in meetings this week in Washington by US, Japanese and South Korean officials.
Last month a top North Korean envoy visited Beijing and stated that Pyongyang is willing to take steps to return to talks.Vice Marshal Choe Ryong Hae was quoted as saying Pyongyang is "willing to take active measures in this regard."
Hua said she hopes all sides concerned will keep their overall interests in mind and create conditions for the early resumption of the six-party talks.
South Korea yesterday joined the United States in insisting that rival North Korea take "concrete" steps towards abandoning its nuclear weapons.
South Korea's Unification Ministry, which deals with inter-Korean relations, made it clear that Seoul and Washington were firmly on the same page.
"I'd like to explain our stance by repeating the comments from the White House that the window of dialogue is open but that North Korea should take concrete steps first," said ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-Seok.
The last senior-level talks between North Korea and the United States in February 2012 resulted in a deal for supplies of US food aid in exchange for a moratorium on missile and nuclear tests. The agreement collapsed almost immediately when North Korea unsuccessfully launched a long-range rocket the following month.
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