Roh`s Message to Powell: Urging Peaceful Resolution

US Secretary of State Colin Powell announced yesterday that the United States could approach in a more practical way the KEDO`s light-water reactor construction project, which has been put on hold due to North Korea`s admission to the existence of its nuclear weapons program.

Powell made such comments during his meeting with Rep. Chung Dong-young of Millennium Democratic Party, who is attending Davos Forum in Switzerland as an envoy of President-elect Roh Moo-hyun. Powell also proposed that the United States and South Korea should look for a practical solution of the KEDO matter.

Regarding this matter, Powell said yesterday, in a press conference held in a plane to Davos, that progress has been made in some respects and the United States expects to have a dialogue with North Korea at an appropriate time.

Rep. Chung reportedly relayed Mr. Roh`s oral message to Secretary Powell, that North Korea`s nuclear crisis should be resolved peacefully through dialog, based on the close cooperation between the United States and South Korea.

After meeting with Powell, Rep. Chung told journalists, "Mr. Roh is designing a reconstruction plan for North Korea. You could call it a Marshall Plan of North Korean version, if you will. The United States and South Korea also agreed to exchange useful ideas about this plan."

Chung also said, "Mr. Powell asked me what topics would be discussed when special envoy Lim [Dong-won] visited North Korea. I replied, `North Korea`s nuclear issue would be discussed.` Then, Mr. Powell told me, `North Korea has shown us a change. It insisted that it would talk only with us. Now, it agrees to talk with South Korea`s special envoy concerning its nuclear weapons program.`"

Governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson attended the meeting held over dinner about North Korea`s nuclear crisis on Friday in Davos and said, "In the near future, a technical-level direct dialog will be held between the United States and North Korea, I believe. Richardson has recently met with North Korea`s U.N. ambassador Han Sung-ryol.

Jei-Gyoon Park phark@donga.com