U.S.: "Cannot be 100 Percent Sure on Success of Six-party Talks"

U.S. Ambassador to Korea Christopher Hill, who is also the U.S. top envoy to the six-party talks, said yesterday, "The six-party talks cannot be 100 percent successful. If North Korea pursues nuclear weapons, it has no choice but to face a dead-end."

At the breakfast gathering held at the Korea Press Center, which is located on Taepyeong Avenue in Jung-gu, Seoul, sponsored by Korea University`s Alumni of Journalists yesterday morning, Ambassador Hill made clear the above, adding, "If the six-party talks should fail, it won`t be because the U.S. did not put in enough energy or had no creative thinking." He returned after visiting China on February 17 and discussing the North Korea nuclear issue with China.

"During my visit to China, Chinese authorities and I completely agreed that Pyongyang should return to the six-party talks, and the Chinese government is also putting in much work. The U.S. has the firm will to solve the North Korea nuclear crisis through diplomatic means," Ambassador Hill emphasized.

He added, "North Korea`s return to the talks is the starting line, not the end. [The U.S.] is determined not to compensate for the return."

Meanwhile, President George W. Bush elucidated that he will consult friendly nations and allies participating in the six-party talks about coming up with countermeasures against North Korea`s declaration of nuclear possession on February 17.

To Senator Hillary Clinton`s question, "How many nuclear weapons are there in North Korea according to Pentagon intelligence?," which was made at the Senate`s Defense Committee hearing on that day, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld answered, "The world has much to learn about North Korea`s nuclear capability."

Soon-Taek Kwon taewon_ha@donga.com maypole@donga.com