North Korean Nuclear Standoff Should be Resolved through Talks

President Roh Moo-hyun, who is on a visit to Russia, met Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the North Korean nuclear standoff at the Grand Kremlin Theater in Moscow on May 9.

During the meeting, which began at 11:40 a.m. (local time) and lasted for about 15 minutes, the two leaders shared their views that “although the current circumstance is in crisis, the North Korean nuclear issue should be resolved through talks.”

It was known that regarding President Roh’s request of Russia to persuade the reclusive regime to resume the six-party talks, President Putin replied that the Russian government would strive further.

On the evening of that day, President Roh also met U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan for 30 minutes at the Metropol Hotel where he is staying in order to discuss the stalled North Korean nuclear issue and the matter of U.N. reform.

In the meantime, the Chinese newspaper People Daily reported on May 9 that with regards to the North Korean nuclear issue, during a summit meeting between South Korea and China, Chinese President Hu Jintao said, “A new circumstance of Pyongyang’s nuclear issue, to which concerned countries should pay attention, has come out recently.”

Concerning Chinese President Hu Jintao’s remark, a government official explained, “The new circumstance that he mentioned did not indicate a sign of North Korean nuclear test, but expressed concerns that since Pyongyang has boycotted the six-party talks, the North Korean nuclear standoff would fall into a difficult situation.”

On the morning of that day after President Roh attended a celebration ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of Russia’s victory in World War II held in Moscow and watched the military parade on Red Square with leaders from 53 countries, he laid flowers at the tomb for unidentified soldiers in Alexandrovski Park.

President Roh will leave Vnukovo Airport in Moscow for Uzbekistan via a special plane in order to pay a state visit to Uzbekistan on the morning of May 10.

Jung-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com