Asia-Pacific

Seoul: Six-Party talks outrank ship sinking spat

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-09 15:48

SEOUL - Reconciling with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over its alleged attack on a warship of Republic of Korea (ROK) is not a precondition for resuming stalled multilateral talks over ending Pyongyang's nuclear programs, local media quoted an official in Seoul as saying on Tuesday.

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Rather, the DPRK's "will to denuclearize" itself will be a key to reviving the moribund Six-Party Talks, suspended after DPRK's walk-out in April 2009, Yonhap news agency quoted an unidentified high-ranking government official as saying.

"There've been some remarks by North Korea (DPRK) that indicated its willingness to return to the Six-Party Talks, but there's been nothing showing its willingness for denuclearization, " the official reportedly said. "Returning to the talks doesn't mean denuclearization."

The ship sinking, however, still remains as the "most important" gauge in assessing the inter-Korean relations, the official reportedly added.

The March ship sinking, which killed 46 ROK sailors, has brought ties between Seoul and Pyongyang to the lowest ebb in years. Officials in Seoul previously said the Six-Party Talks would not resume unless Pyongyang apologizes for the sinking. Pyongyang has repeatedly denied its responsibility.