Kim Gye-gwan, head of the North Korean delegation to the
six-party talks, said on Tuesday that the US should change its
policy of forbidding North Korea's peaceful nuclear
development.
"The crux of resolving the nuclear issue is the differences
between the policies of North Korea and the US.... The US hasn't
decided to accept North Korea's peaceful nuclear program," Kim, who
arrived back after the 13-day first phase of the forth round of
six-party talks in Beijing, told Xinhua at Pyongyang Sunan
Airport.
"If the US really wants to make substantial progress in the
Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue, it had better make up its mind to
change its policy," Kim affirmed.
That is the key for possible achievements in future talks, he
added.
It is North Korea's "strategic decision" to abandon nuclear
weapons, he said, adding that his country has rights "to develop
peaceful nuclear programs."
Although there were many difficulties, talks of the first phase
established a "groundwork" for future discussions, Kim noted.
"This is the significance of the talks," he noted.
"Now that we still have differences on the way of
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, adjournment is a good
idea at this stage," Kim said.
He reiterated that North Korea's stand on settling the nuclear
issue on the Korean Peninsula through six-party talks remains
unchanged.
He also appreciated China's "great efforts" in managing the
fourth round of talks. The preparations for the talks were
"sufficient," he said.
Kim Yong-il, North Korean deputy foreign minister who greeted
Kim Gye-gwan at the airport, told Xinhua that the North was
satisfied with the first phase of the fourth round of talks,
comparing with the previous three rounds.
He reiterated that North Korea's stand on settling the Korean
Peninsula nuclear issue through six-party talks remains
unchanged.
"North Korea's stand on the nuclear issue is very clear. Now it
depends on the US changing its policy," he said.
The fourth round of talks started July 26 in Beijing. On Sunday,
the six parties, China, the US, Russia, Japan, North and South
Korea, decided to have a recess and the talks would resume during
the week starting August 29 at a date to be agreed upon.
(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2005)
