Hope is to restart six-party nuclear talks
Members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee plan to visit North Korea in order to build up trust with the communist nation and with a view to jump-start the stalled six-party nuclear talks, according to Risa Murkowski, a Republican senator from Alaska and chair of the group’s sub-committee on East Asia. The plans of the visit came out at a June 14 meeting of the Asia Society held in Washington. At the meeting, Sen. Murkowski said, "Consultation on the schedule of the visit to North Korea is underway with related authorities." She said that four senators, including herself, were seeking to visit the communist country. However, an official invitation from the North--an often hard-won prerequisite--is still forthcoming.But Sen. Murkowski remained hopeful that with a visit, something of value could be accomplished between the two countries. She cited the heightened tension in the U.S. over the North Korean nuclear issue as needing immediate focus and resolve. The senator urged the Bush administration to transform its policies toward the reclusive North, saying that recent crackdowns on illegal banking activities is only serving to stall talks about the nuclear issue. Additionally, Sen. Murkowski said that chief negotiator with the North and Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who has been barred by the Bush administration from visiting Pyongyang, should be allowed to visit. Meanwhile, concerns on the North’s moves to test-fire long-range ballistic missiles have elevated. Seoul discussed countermeasures at a June 15 meeting of officials from the presidential office and foreign affairs and security authorities. After the meeting, an official said, "Regarding the possibility of the North’s test-firing ballistic missiles, the government has carefully examined our options, while taking necessary measures such as consulting with concerned authorities." Seoul already expressed its concern about the test to Pyongyang early last month. Responding to an anticipated suspension of tourist trips to the North’s Mt. Kumgang and diplomatic visits to the Kaesong Industrial Complex there should the North conduct a test-fire, the official said the projects would not be affected, as they are of a civilian nature.
