North Korea plans to rejoin the six-way talks on its nuclear program if the United States promises to ease its financial restrictions on the communist regime, a key North Korean official here was quoted as saying on Monday.
The news, if confirmed, would mark a softening of Pyongyang's position that it will never return to the talks unless the U.S. lifts the sanctions on Macau-based Banco Delta Asia (BDA) bank.
About a year ago, the U.S. banned transactions between the bank and U.S. financial entities, viewing it as having served as a conduit for North Korea's counterfeiting of U.S. dollars and money laundering. The measure has frozen US$24 million in more than 50 North Korean accounts, most of which is believed to be the slush funds of the reclusive state's ruling elite.
The BDA issue has been the biggest obstacle to the nuclear discussions, as North Korea has stayed away from the talks in protest.
But the U.S. remains unswayed, saying the financial restrictions are unrelated with the nuclear talks involving the U.S., China, Russia, Japan, and the two Koreas.
Rep. Choi Sung of South Korea's ruling Uri Party said that he met with a key North Korean official working in Beijing and learnt the North's fresh offer. He refused to identify the official, citing the sensitive of the issue.
"The North Korean official told me that North Korea can take part in the six-way talks if there is a compromise with the U.S. that the BDA issue will certainly be resolved within the framework of the six-way talks," Choi said. He is in the Chinese capital for the South Korean National Assembly's annual inspection on administrative affairs including works by the country's diplomatic missions abroad.
"The future of the talks hinges on the U.S. stance," Choi quoted the official as saying.
Choi added that North Korea appears to be waiting for a positive response from Washington.
The lawmaker said the North Korean official reaffirmed that Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program has the political purpose of increasing its leverage in talks with Washington, not for a military use.
Last week, an informed diplomatic source here told Yonhap News Agency that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il told a Chinese delegation, led by State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, that his country has no plan to conduct additional nuclear tests for the moment.
The source provided no details including whether Kim presented a precondition for his offer not to worsen the situation.
Neither Chinese nor North Korean authorities have confirmed the reports, which has drawn a mixed response.
Some South Korean officials construed Kim's comments as an olive branch for the U.S. to break the stalemate, while U.S. officials said the North should take concrete actions instead of such rhetoric.
On the weekend, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wrapped up her weeklong tour to Japan, South Korea, China and Russia, a trip aimed to rally support for the United Nations Security Council resolution to punish North Korea for its Oct. 9 nuclear test.
But she faced strong calls in Seoul and Beijing for the U.S. to take a more flexible approach towards the North.
Beijing, Oct. 23 (Yonhap News)
Pyongyang said to have softened its stance on nuclear talks |
