Six-Party Talks Open in Beijing

The fourth round of the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear standoff officially commenced on Tuesday morning at the Daioyutai State Guest House in Beijing, China. The ending date of the talks has not been set. The talks will continue until the participants produce results.

At the opening ceremony, the chief delegates of the six countries, including the two Koreas, the U.S., Japan, China, and Russia, said in greeting remarks that the goal of the talks is for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan said, “The fundamental issue in the talks is to make real progress in realizing the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. To that end, the parties concerned have to show their political will and make a strategic decision on the Korean peninsula.”

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill said, “If North Korea makes a strategic decision and renounces its nuclear programs, other participating countries will take corresponding steps. Participants are ready to deal with North Korea’s security issue and energy issue.”

South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-soon said, “The South has presented a plan to offer two million kilowatts of electricity to the North if it agrees to dismantle its nuclear programs. It is hoped that the North will renounce its nuclear ambition, and other countries will firmly promise to provide corresponding measures such as normalizing their relationships with North Korea and providing security guarantees.”

Jong-Koo Yoon Hyung-June Park jkmas@donga.com lovesong@donga.com