Korea and U.S.to Discuss the Six-Party Talks Concerning the North Korea Nuclear Issue

The U.S. Department of State announced on October 18 that U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will make a tour of three Northeast Asian countries such as Korea, China, and Japan, and also will discuss pending questions between Korea and the U.S., including the North Korea nuclear issue, troop dispatch to Iraq, and the realignment of the U.S.F.K, with Minister Ban Gi-mun of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on October 26.

State Department spokesman Richard Voucher said through a briefing on that day, "Discussing so that North Korea can come back quickly to the six-party talks is the main agenda of the tour."

The spokesman added, "As Korea, the U.S., Japan, and China have proposed a comprehensive suggestion to resolve the North Korea issue, North Korea (if they were to rejoin the talks) should be ready to negotiate and not just return to the talks."

When questioned whether "the U.S. is planning to make a dramatic turnaround with North Korea," concerning the timing of Powell`s tour set one week before the U.S. presidential election, Voucher answered, "There is no such plan." Yet he left a suggestive remark, saying, "Many things happen in diplomacy, and the U.S. has a lot of work to do together with the three Northeast Asian countries this November and December."

Seung-Ryun Kim srkim@donga.com