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Washington willing to hold direct dialogue with Pyongyang: US official
Seoul, September 30 (Xinhua) — U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said here on Wednesday that his country is willing to hold direct talks with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korean (DPRK) to persuade it to come back to the international nuclear disarmament talks.
Steinberg, currently on a five-nation Asia tour, made the remark after a series of meetings with Prime Minister Chung Un-chan, Vice Foreign Minister Kwon Jong-rak, presidential security adviser Kim Sung-hwan, and chief nuclear negotiator Wi Sung-lac Wednesday morning.
The United States is prepared to have “direct and bilateral engagement” with the DPRK if it can help bring Pyongyang back to the six-party talks, Steinberg told reporters.
“I think there is a tremendous opportunity now for them to take a constructive measure,” the senior U.S. diplomat said, adding that “they’ve certainly given some indication that they understand the value of re-engagement and we would like to see them take advantage of it.”
The United States earlier said it will hold bilateral talks with Pyongyang but such direct dialogue should come only in the context of the six-party process.
Meanwhile, Steinberg said his country agreed with South Korea’s views that a comprehensive approach to the DPRK’s denuclearization is important.
“What we need is a comprehensive and definitive resolution of the nuclear question,” he said.
He said that Washington is prepared to “make significant improvements” in its relationships with Pyongyang if it takes irreversible steps to dismantle its nuclear program, as the six involved partners said in the 2005 joint statement.
To meet the goal, it needs a “comprehensive and definitive approach”, he noted, and said he believed that Washington and Seoul are “absolutely in sync” on this regard.
Steinberg’s remark was seen as a response to a “grand bargain” proposed by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak earlier this month. The proposal calls on the DPRK to abandon its nuclear program and complete irreversible denuclearization in exchange for a security guarantee and economic aid granted by the international community.
Steinberg arrived here late Tuesday, and is scheduled to leave for Tokyo, the last leg of his five-nation Asia tour, later Thursday. During the tour, he also visited Malaysia, Vietnam, and China.
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Needless to say, Xinhua reports Steinberg’s remarks in the manner befitting the Chinese interest and taste.