“Russia Willing to Discuss North Korean Nuclear Issue in UN Security Council”

The Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported on May 1, quoting a U.S. government official, that Russia told the United States it would agree to discuss the North Korean nuclear issue at the United Nations Security Council in case the six-party talks broke down.

“Among the other permanent members of the UN Security Council, the United Kingdom and France approve of the issue being presented before the Security Council, while China is still against it,” added the newspaper.

At a press conference on April 28, U.S. President George W. Bush announced he would not take the issue to the Security Council if some of the participants in the six-way talks possessing veto power in the Security Council—China and Russia—oppose such a plan.

It seems likely that in the process of persuading North Korea to hold a fourth round of the six-nation talks, the U.S. government will urge the Chinese government either to take an active role in bringing the North back to the negotiating table or to approve of the issue being taken to the Security Council.

Hun-Joo Cho Seung-Ryun Kim hanscho@donga.com srkim@donga.com