Seoul rejects Pyongyang's talks 'offer'
Source: AFP |
May 28, 2013, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SOUTH Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se brushed off yesterday a reported North Korean offer to resume nuclear disarmament talks, saying he would first need to see evidence of its sincerity.
"Our stance is that there should not be dialogue for dialogue's sake," Yun said.
"The important thing now is for North Korea to show its sincerity to the international community by implementing its past denuclearization pledges," he added.
Yun's remarks followed a visit to China by a top North Korean envoy, who brought a personal letter from leader Kim Jong Un to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
It is reported that the letter stated North Korea's willingness to resume long-stalled six-party talks on denuclearization involving China, the two Koreas, the United States, Russia and Japan.
South Korea insists that North Korea must demonstrate its commitment to abandoning its nuclear weapons program in order for formal talks to begin.
"We need to see North Korea's sincerity in its actions," Yun said, adding all outward signs were of Pyongyang going in the opposite direction and strengthening its nuclear arsenal.
The North Korean coverage of envoy Choe Ryong-Hae's visit to China made no mention whatsoever of a dialogue proposal. Of the letter to Xi, Korean Central News Agency said only that it conveyed Kim's desire to deepen the "traditional friendship" between North Korea and China.
"Our stance is that there should not be dialogue for dialogue's sake," Yun said.
"The important thing now is for North Korea to show its sincerity to the international community by implementing its past denuclearization pledges," he added.
Yun's remarks followed a visit to China by a top North Korean envoy, who brought a personal letter from leader Kim Jong Un to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
It is reported that the letter stated North Korea's willingness to resume long-stalled six-party talks on denuclearization involving China, the two Koreas, the United States, Russia and Japan.
South Korea insists that North Korea must demonstrate its commitment to abandoning its nuclear weapons program in order for formal talks to begin.
"We need to see North Korea's sincerity in its actions," Yun said, adding all outward signs were of Pyongyang going in the opposite direction and strengthening its nuclear arsenal.
The North Korean coverage of envoy Choe Ryong-Hae's visit to China made no mention whatsoever of a dialogue proposal. Of the letter to Xi, Korean Central News Agency said only that it conveyed Kim's desire to deepen the "traditional friendship" between North Korea and China.
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