Talks to Resume Swiftly

Participants of the six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear program scheduled to resume on December 18 plan to establish four to six working-level groups accordingly based on key issues and proceed with discussion simultaneously.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, China held a meeting with U.S. and North Korean representatives and received consent after suggesting the aforementioned.

The plan was made when the execution of the 9/19 Beijing joint statement agreed upon in September 2005 was confirmed, and it includes contents such as denuclearization, normalization of the relationship between the North and the U.S., normalization of the relationship between the North and Japan, economic and energy aid, and establishment of a mechanism which ensures regional security.

The Yomiuri Shimbun said that the establishment of a mechanism ensuring regional security is intended for paving the way for perpetual peace and replacing a cease-fire agreement, and it explained that the U.S. government came up with the plan to induce serious reaction from the North.

Also, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in an interview with AFP on December 11, “I hope the coming talks could lead to the dismantlement of the North’s nuclear programs within two years,” stressing, “The North should show results as soon as possible.”

Secretary Rice added that if the North implements the 9/19 joint statement, the U.S. will be ready to provide incentives such as economic aid, energy support, and improvement of the political relationship.

She added that her goal is to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear program before January 2009 when President Bush’s tenure ends.

Meanwhile, U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack announced at a regular briefing on that day that Christopher Hill, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, plans to make primary contact with officials of the participant countries upon his arrival in Beijing on December 16 and begin talks starting from December 18.

He explained that it is likely that the U.S. may hold a bilateral meeting with North Korea.

McCormack said that nothing is guaranteed and that he expects the participants to come to a conclusion on specific actions by negotiating according to the principle of trust and to execute them promptly.

sechepa@donga.com iam@donga.com