NK Has Not Agreed to Next Six-Way Talks in December

On November 25, the White House spokesperson unveiled that North Korea has not yet agreed to hold the next six-way talks in mid-December, with the agenda of discussing the North Korean nuclear problem.

“North Korea has assented to resume the six-way talks, but it has not yet agreed to hold it in mid-December,” said the spokesperson, adding, “We will not give any inducement to North Korea in order for them to agree with us.” So far, the U.S., China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea have consented to hold the second round of six-way talks in mid-December.

About the U.S. President George W. Bush’s countermeasure of giving a safety guarantee to North Korea, the spokesperson remarked, “We will not provide any safety guarantee written in black and white to have legal validity.” He added, “The U.S. is joining with Korea and Japan on the written alliance treaty, but North Korea does not have such a right.”

Except for North Korea, the other five countries have roughly agreed on their measures to give North Korea a safety guarantee, but it is hard to predict as to whether or not North Korea will accept it, added the spokesperson.

maypole@donga.com