Next Six-way Talks to be Held at the End of October

Next Six-way Talks to be Held at the End of October. September. 30, 2003 22:52. by Hun-Joo Cho hanscho@donga.com.

The second round of six-way talks to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis is expected to be resumed as early as the end of October.

In addition, the United States is known to have a plan to provide a written guarantee of the North Korean regime at a proper time, not a non-aggression treaty.

“The U.S., Japan, and Korea discussed how to draw Pyongyang back to the dialogue table on the assumption that there will be a follow-up talks in October or November,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck Tuesday after the working-level talks of the three nations in Tokyo.

“During the talks, the U.S. saidt that it was good for the North not to have taken provocative actions on its foundation day,” Lee said. “The U.S. will map out more specific plans in the second round of the talks,” he forecast.

“The U.S. said that it cannot provide a non-aggression treaty but it seemed to be reviewing various measures to guarantee the North Korean regime at the right time,” he said. “The U.S. will take gradual steps in return according to Pyongyang`s declaration of giving up nuclear weapons program, setting about the work, and finishing the program completely,” he added.

“We did not discuss the issues of Japanese abductions and humanitarian aid to the North,” he said.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly and Japanese Foreign Ministry Director-General Mitoji Yabunaka attended this talk.

“The schedule of the second-round of talks depend on China,” said the U.S. Department of State Monday (local time). “The Chinese authorities are working on this matter now,” it added.