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US envoy urges DPRK to return to nuclear talks

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-07-17 16:11

TOKYO: The top US diplomat for East Asia on Friday said it's not too late for the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) to return to international nuclear disarmament talks and urged the country to fulfill its obligations to end its nuclear programs.

US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell (R) is welcomed by Japan's Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone prior to their meeting in Tokyo July 17, 2009. [Agencies]

Kurt Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific affairs, also said other members of the international community must ensure that UN Security Council sanctions on the DPRK are enacted while they seek ways to resume dialogue.

"We think it is important to send a collective message to North Korea (the DPRK) that it's not too late and we still wish them to return to the six-party talks and to responsible negotiations," Campbell said after holding talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone.

The six-party talks came to a halt in April when the DPRK withdrew to protest a UN statement condemning what Pyongyang described as a satellite launch. Japan, the US and their allies said the launch was a long-range missile test.

The DPRK conducted its second underground nuclear test in May, drawing further condemnation and sanctions.

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Kim Yong Nam, the North's No. 2 official, this week said Pyongyang was not ready to resume nuclear disarmament talks because the US and its allies do not respect the country's sovereignty.

The talks involve the two Koreas, the US, Japan, China and Russia.

Campbell also met with his Japanese counterparts, including the country's top nuclear envoy, Akitaka Saiki, and agreed to continue close cooperation to resolve Pyongyang's nuclear problems, a Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.

Campbell, joined by US Assistant Secretary of Defense Wallace Gregson, is to hold bilateral security and foreign affairs discussions with their Japanese counterparts on Saturday before heading to Seoul.