South Korean Official Says Korean Peace Linked to Six-Party Talks Progress

Oct 08, 06:20 AM

Current Headlines: Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap

[By Yoo Cheong-mo: "Roh aide says Korean Peninsula peace summit linked to progress in six-party talks"]

Seoul, Oct. 8 (Yonhap) - A top security policy aide for South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun [No Mu-hyo'n] said Monday that the implementation of the latest inter-Korean agreement on holding a three-or four-party summit on permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula would be closely linked to the progress of the six-nation talks on disabling North Korea's nuclear programme.

"The atmosphere for three-or four-party summit talks on the declaration of the end of the (1950-53) Korean War will depend on progress in the six-nation nuclear talks," said Baek Jong-chun [Paek Chong-ch'o'n], chief presidential secretary for foreign, security and unification policy, in his meeting with senior journalists.

"The US seems to consider developing its relations with North Korea in a positive way. Considering the circumstances involving the US and North Korea, it is expected that disabling the North's nuclear weapons programme would proceed as scheduled. Such a development will then be very helpful to the inter-Korean relations," said Baek.

Baek accompanied Roh on his three-day summit trip to North Korea last week.

A 10-point joint declaration signed by Roh and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il calls for holding three-or four-party summit talks for discussions on the declaration of the end of the Korean War and a permanent peace treaty on the Korean Peninsula.

Negotiators from the six nations - the two Koreas, the US, China, Japan and Russia - separately reached a tentative agreement in Beijing last week on a road map outlining goals for North Korea to meet a pledge to shut down its nuclear facilities by the year's end.

Originally published by Yonhap news agency, Seoul, in English 0905 8 Oct 07.

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