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S. Korean envoy heads to Russia for consultations on N. Korea
SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator left for Moscow on Tuesday for discussions with his Russian counterpart on North Korea, as regional powers attempt to present a united front in pushing Pyongyang back to the bargaining table."To be discussed are the issue of implementing the U.N. Security Council resolution (adopted after its nuclear test) and various ways to resume dialogue with North Korea," Wi Sung-lac said shortly before departure. He added Seoul's push for a five-way meeting with the U.S., China, Russia, and Japan is also among the agenda items for his meeting Wednesday with Alexei Borodavkin, head of Russia's delegation to the six-nation talks on the North's nuclear program. Officials here say the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to be held next month in Phuket, Thailand, could provide a chance for such an event. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her counterparts from South Korea, China, Russia, and Japan plan to attend the ARF. It is unclear whether the North's Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun will attend. Russia has formally expressed support for a five-way session. "Russia supports five-way consultations to decide additional measures to deal with the current crisis," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday. But China, the host of the six-party talks, is still unresponsive. As North Korea's closest traditional ally, Beijing is reportedly reluctant to join a five-way meeting without Pyongyang. Wi said South Korean and Chinese officials have been consulting on the matter by phone and through diplomatic channels. Asked about China's latest response, he only said "We will have to wait and see." Posted by: Steve White 2009-06-23 |
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