Six-way Korean talks to continue

The six-party talks on the so-called Korean nuclear issue adjourned 
after three days. China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 
south Korea, Russia, the US and Japan took part. It is expected that the 
talks will resume in October although a final communiqui was not 
issued.

A statement issued by China's news agency Xinhua before the talks started 
said that, "In times of peace and development, the very existence of the 
nuclear issue and possible conflicts it may spark are neither in the 
fundamental interests of the parties concerned, nor beneficial to regional 
peace, stability and cooperation.

"The Korean Peninsula should be nuclear-free, but enough importance should 
also be attached to the DPRK's concerns over its own security. Linking 
peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula to Pyongyang's security 
concerns . should be the basic idea guiding the six parties to the talks in 
tackling the issue", Xinhua said.

"Against the backdrop of a volatile world, the nuclear issue on the Korean 
Peninsula reflects the collision of strategic interests among the sides 
involved."

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) the Government of the 
DPRK put forward a package of proposals at the six-way talks. The package 
included the signing by the US of a non-aggression treaty with the DPRK, 
the establishment of diplomatic relations with the DPRK, the guarantee of 
DPRK-Japan and inter-Korean economic co-operation, and the completion of 
light-water reactors which had been agreed by the US and Japan as far back 
as 1994.

In return, the DPRK will not manufacture nuclear weapons. It will allow 
inspection of its nuclear facilities, realise the ultimate dismantling of 
its nuclear facilities and stop the export and experiment of missiles.

The representative of the Russian Federation at the talks, Alexander 
Losiukov said that the DPRK is interested in the denuclearisation of the 
Korean Peninsula and does not intend to own nuclear weapons.

He pointed out that building nuclear facilities is not equivalent to owning 
nuclear weapons but that the DPRK might master the technology after 
conducting some research.

South Korea's National Security Adviser Ra Jong-il said he was "optimistic" 
about the future of the dialogue.

He said the DPRK announcement that it has no intention of developing 
nuclear weapons and wants de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula during 
the Beijing talks was "remarkable progress".

"The talks produced a framework for complete and peaceful resolution of the 
DPRK nuclear issue", said the South Korean National Security Adviser, 
adding that the talks were significant in that all the countries agreed on 
a nuclear free peninsula.

He was hopeful for more progress in the next round of talks, which is 
expected to be held as early as October, saying there is no need to be 
disappointed as differences could be worked out in the days ahead.

South Korean political parties also positively assessed the outcome of the 
talks while expressing regret at the absence of a joint statement.

"The countries clearly expressed their positions and listened carefully to 
each other's speeches, laying the ground for a peaceful solution of the 
nuclear issue", said Moon Seok-ho, spokesman for the ruling Millennium 
Democratic Party.

However, the Australian media continues to beat the war drum and is 
desperately playing a "China card" in an attempt to create a division 
between the DPRK and China.

The Weekend Sydney Morning Herald headlined its article on the 
Beijing talks: "China responds icily to N Korea nuclear threat". The 
article failed to present the package proposed by the DPRK or the positive 
response to the talks by the South Korean representative and South Korean 
political parties.