US, ROK seek new door to nuke talks

SEOUL: The US and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are developing a "comprehensive" strategy for persuading its neighbor to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, breaking from the step-by-step process that has seen Pyongyang backtrack on pledges.

Assistant US Secretary of State Kurt Campbell discussed the new strategy with chief ROK nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac during talks on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said yesterday.

The possibility of a new approach came as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) hardened its boycott of international nuclear talks after carrying out its second atomic weapons test and test-firing a barrage of banned missiles in defiance of UN sanctions.