North Proposed Russia to Hold Six-Way Talks

North Korea asked the Russian government to host multilateral talks in the late July, one month prior to the six-way talks in Beijing, but Russia declined the proposal as it may damage relations between China and Russia, a Chinese source was quoted as saying in the Sankei Sinbum on August 9.

China, which heard the news later through Russia, was very upset over the attitude of North Korea and this is one of reasons why countries that participated in the six-nation talks in Beijing have not yet decided when the next talks will be held, the paper reported.

The motive behind North Korea`s proposal to Russia to participate and hold multilateral talks reflects not only its intention to check the United States, but its repulsion toward China`s shift of its stance to side with the United States, a country which strategically isolates its regime to add pressure, so as to make it give up its nuclear ambitions, a diplomatic source in Beijing noted.

According to the source, Kim Jong-il, president of North Korea, made a phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin late July to propose Russia`s participation in the talks. Russia agreed upon it, the talks, thus, became a six-way format. In addition, Kim asked Russia to hold the multilateral talks. Putin, however, discarded the proposal.

“It is natural for China to hold the talks since it is making a tremendous amount of efforts to induce a peaceful resolution. We can not risk damaging our relations with China by holding the talks in Russia,” Putin said.

It is speculated that Kim called Putin soon after China was convinced by the U.S.`s argument and urged North Korea to add South Korea and Japan to the member list of the talks.

China, which heard the proposal of North Korea while Deputy Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo was visiting Russia, became reserved in holding the talks in Beijing, and did not clearly stated where the talks would be held until North Korea expressed its agreement to China`s hosting the talks in Beijing.

parkwj@donga.com