Asia-Pacific

Pyongyang may set date of return to nuclear talks

By Peng Kuang and Zhang Jin (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-02 07:36

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will announce a timetable to return to the Six-Party Talks during US envoy Stephen Bosworth's visit to the country next week, a Japanese newspaper reported yesterday.

Pyongyang is likely to announce the date of its resumption of negotiations as a "gift" during the US official's visit, according to Sankei Shimbun, who cited an anonymous Japanese foreign ministry official.

If the official is correct, it will conclude months of intense international lobbying of the DPRK since it walked away from the negotiating table in April, when the United Nations condemned its rocket launches.

Bosworth will arrive in the DPRK on Dec 8 and leave the next day. He will lead a team of four to five members, China News Service reported yesterday.

"It's very likely the DPRK will announce the timetable," said Shen Shishun, a senior researcher at China Institute of International Studies.

Pyongyang is keen on an open, direct talk with Washington, said Shen, adding that the DPRK and the US could build trust through two-way talks.

"Since the US is now willing to talk with the DPRK, Pyongyang will return to multiparty talks, too."

DPRK leader Kim Jong-il told visiting Premier Wen Jiabao in October that Pyongyang is willing to rejoin the Six-Party Talks, which also include the US, Russia, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Shen said China has lobbied a great deal to bring all parties back to the negotiating table.

China's defense minister Liang Guanglie wrapped up his five-day trip to the DPRK last week when the neighbors vowed to promote a long-term friendship.

But Shen emphasized that roles from other parties are also important.

"Multi-nation talks are needed to coordinate interests of all parties," he said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said yesterday he hoped the meeting between the US and the DPRK could "yield concrete results".