U.S. and North Korean diplomats are set to meet next week in Geneva to discuss North Korea's controversial nuclear program. Pyongyang wants full six-party talks to resume. But South Korea says the North must first clearly indicate it intends to abandon its nuclear program.
Speaking at an East Asia Institute conference in Seoul, South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said Pyongyang must abide by previous promises to denuclearize before any new round of six-party talks can resume.
"Seoul and Washington will keep urging North Korea to demonstrate through specific actions that it has true intentions to abandon its nuclear programs."
The six-way talks include both Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia. China has been pushing for their quick resumption. But the U.S., South Korea and Japan have been more cautious, saying North Korea must first implement actions it agreed to take in previous negotiations.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il told Russia's Itar-Tass news agency last week six-way talks should resume without preconditions. He also reaffirmed his commitment six years ago to gradually reduce North Korea's nuclear programs in exchange for massive aid, enhanced diplomatic relations and security guarantees.