*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) SEOUL, South Korea - July 28, 2009: North Korea has reiterated that it would not return to the six-party talks, aimed at disabling Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. 
North Korean soldiers look towards the south as the U.S. soldiers stand guard at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas, in Paju, about 55 km (34 miles) north of Seoul, July 27, 2009, while Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission holds the 56th anniversary of armistice between the two Koreas after the 1950-53 Korean War. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Sunday that major powers wanted North Korea to return to negotiations over its nuclear program but would not reward any provocative actions.
However a Foreign Ministry statement suggested on Monday that the North was not shutting the door completely on some form of dialogue.
"There is a specific and reserved form of dialogue that can address the current situation," state media quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying, without further elaboration.
Earlier on Friday North Korea's UN envoy, Sin Son-Ho, had also hinted on the issue, saying that Pyongyang was not opposed to negotiations with the US, but that it would not return to the six-party format.
North Korea abandoned the Six-party talks -- involving the two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan -- in April, after the UN condemned its long-range rocket launch.
Since then Pyongyang has conducted several nuclear and missile tests, which have also been met with tougher UN sanctions.
The sanctions include an expanded arms embargo and strict inspections of all shipments going to and from North Korea.
A travel ban has also been imposed on Pyongyang officials suspected of being involved in the country's nuclear and missile programs.
The United States has meanwhile urged the international community to continue to pressure North Korea to return to the six-party talks.
No comments:
Post a Comment