US Defense Secretary Says Talks with North Korea Possible
Steve Herman
|
Seoul
14 January 2011
Photo: AP
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, front center, walks with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, right, and South Korean Gen. Han Min-koo, Seoul, Jan 14, 2011
Top defense officials of the United States and South Korea held brief talks about North Korea as U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrapped up his week-long Asia trip.
Gates is the latest figure on the international stage to signal the possibility of peacefully re-engaging North Korea. During a meeting Friday in Seoul with his South Korean counterpart, Gates said any return to multinational talks with Pyongyang could only come after the two Koreas meet.
"When, or if, North Korea’s actions show cause to believe that negotiations can be productive and conducted in good faith, then we could see a return to the six-party talks," he said. "But the DPRK [North Korea] leadership must stop these dangerous provocations and take concrete steps to show that they will begin meeting their international obligations."
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin said there is a fear of additional military provocations by North Korea after a pair of attacks in 2010.
Kim mentions last year’s sinking of a South Korean warship and the shelling of Yeonpyeong island. He says South Korea feels under attack amid the highest tensions on the peninsula since the Korean War, six decades ago.
Gates also met with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during a short visit to the country as he wrapped up a week-long trip to Asia.
U.S. and South Korean officials say the stop in Seoul was primarily to discuss their common concern about the communist North and to strengthen deterrence in dealing with Pyongyang’s provocations.
The United States’ concerns about North Korea also were apparent when the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, spoke in Washington Wednesday.
Mullen used the words "danger" and "dangerous" repeatedly when answering questions about North Korea’s increasing missile capability to strike beyond its shores.
"The potential provocations could become more and more catastrophic. And that's been a principal point of focus as we look at engaging the leadership in China and others to say this is something we really have to figure out a way to deter in the future," he said.
In addition to China, Mullen added, coordinated pressure on impoverished North Korea also needs to come from South Korea, Japan and Russia.
Six-country talks about North Korea’s nuclear development have not been held since 2008. Pyongyang renounced the forum in 2009. North Korea had pledged in 2005 to dismantle its nuclear weapons programs in exchange for international aid and diplomatic benefits.
Since shelling Yeonpyeong, killing four South Koreans, North Korea has taken a more conciliatory tone, asking repeatedly for talks.
South Korea, so far, has rebuffed the request, saying Pyongyang must first show it is sincere about ending provocations and about making progress on giving up its nuclear arms.
The two Koreas want a unified Korea, not "United States" of Korea!!!
The two Koreas want a unified Korea, not "United States" of Korea!!!
It's kind of already too late to do that, the Korean War sort of established our presence there, and Korea has a culture relatively similar to ours.
Well considering SK is now reluctant to hold talks now I think the US are doing well to push the line!
Although I think a unified korea would scare the US big time..
@"United Korea would scare US big time" Why?!
United Korea would not scare USA more than United Germany did, given the Germany's role in XX history. So far China was and is the biggest obstacle to Korea unification. On short run unification may trigger NK collapse, war and waves of NK refugees. On long run United Korea offers Democratic attractive alternative to Communist China.
Where do you place for "Bad" USA"
Did they ever proof that North Korea is responsible in South Korean ship sinking? ship sinking investigated by private company, huh? Why not UN or any neutral country? Which Korea start the shelling? Who knows! We only see one sided news. Please watch news from both countries (party) and research it yourself. It may be an inside job. North Korea has nothing to gain from inciting war with South Korea. How about US? One step closer in surrounding China (after Afghanistan & Pakistan).
Talks are better than shells or torpedos.Unified Korea may erase arm race between 2 sides of peninsula's DMZ.
I doubt NK and SK would unite due to the tensions between them and the difference in government.
mugen: take off your tin foil hat and come back to reality. North Korea is a dying relic of an idea that never worked in practice.
The reason capitalist democracy is so successful is because it mirrors human nature. We live in a dog-eat-dog planet where the strongest survive and are rewarded for their strength. To try and force everything to be shared equally is contrary to the insticts that have made humankind the most powerful predators this planet has ever known...
Properganda is working well in last more than 50 years.
peace was offered always before the provocations.
history shows the truth which comes with evidence.
The world needs you Team America
Any the war will be the dangerous and catastrophic human.At fist, only the civil people will be a very heavy result. I hope all of political leaders from over the world that concern in this
If the US had never stepped in SK would never have existed. Naive students may protest yanks but SK owes its prosperity to US intervention. As to SK's refusal to acknowledge NK's offer of peace, please watch videos of previous "peace talks". NK completely ignores what the other side is saying and talk to themselves. Jong-il typically gets very drunk during meetings. This is a plea for more food, so they can divert more money on nukes.
It's most probable that the SK started the issue--the battleship's sinking was probably only a trick played by SK. The purpose was to make up an excuse to invade NK, in order to overthrow NK and reunite the Korea peninsula.
china may push provocation of north korea in korean peninsula to check USA. why china, as a member of UN security council, shut his eyes to the nuclear armament of north korea ? can the police over look the criminal ? is the china is a real member of UN security council ?
china may push provocation of north korea in korean peninsula to check USA. why china, as a member of UN security council, shut his eyes to the nuclear armament of north korea ? can the police over look the criminal ? is the china is a real member of UN security council ?
@Spudder(Autsraulia) Okay. You can call the United States Of Korea, so why don't you call that People Democratic China of North Korea or Burma or for millions people died in Cambodia after Vietnam War. Think over it before you show your ideas here okay. You can hate the US, but don't show your short knowledge here. People will see it.
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