National News U.S. offers talks to North Korea after calls from regional allies

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The United States said Jan. 7 it was willing to talk to North Korea about its nuclear intentions, easing tension a notch following calls from the region for dialogue.

The U.S. administration, which had previously insisted North Korea roll back recent steps to revive its nuclear weapons plans before any talks, announced its shift in policy after holding talks in Washington with South Korea and Japan.

But it insisted that it would not allow North Korea's nuclear program to become a bargaining chip. Pyongyang has threatened war if the United States imposes sanctions.

"The United States is willing to talk to North Korea about how it will meet its obligations to the international community," the three countries said in a joint statement.

"However, the U.S. delegation stressed that the United States will not provide quid pro quos to North Korea to live up to its existing obligations."

The policy was announced after the Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group meeting in which Japan was represented by Mitoji Yabunaka, head of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, South Korea by Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Tae Shik and the United States by Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly.

The three countries urged North Korea to eliminate its nuclear weapons program. "The three delegations expressed serious concern over the recent steps taken by North Korea to lift its nuclear freeze and called upon North Korea to undo these measures and not take any precipitous action," the statement said.

The statement also expressed support for a resolution adopted by the U.N. nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency, which calls on North Korea to refreeze its nuclear project and readmit IAEA inspectors.

米、北朝鮮と対話方針を表明

日米韓3国の局長クラスが北朝鮮問題を協議する政策調整会合は7日、米国が北朝鮮と対話の用意があることを示した共同声明を発表し、閉会した。

Shukan ST: Jan. 17, 2003

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