The United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK) show flexibility at the start of six-party
talks to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula in Beijing on
Tuesday.
The United States said at the opening ceremony of the talks that
it regards the DPRK as a sovereign state and has no intention of
invading or attacking it. The DPRK said it is ready to "sail to the
goal" of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.
Chinese analysts described the opening remarks as a
demonstration of flexibility compared to the previous three rounds
of talks that took place between August 2003 and June 2004.
"It's great progress for the United States to formally announce
in the talks that it recognizes DPRK's sovereignty and promises not
to invade or attack the country," said Wang Yizhou, deputy director
of the Institute of World Economics and Politics operating under
the auspices of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
"Such recognition and promise, if coupled with a peaceful
settlement of the nuclear crisis, will clear the way for the US and
DPRK to forge diplomatic ties after decades of confrontation," Wang
said.
The US statement was of particular significance to the DPRK,
which over the past years has repeatedly asked the United States to
respect its sovereignty and normalize political and economic
relations with it, while offering "definite assurance" of
non-aggression against it.
A spokesman for the Chinese delegation described the various
meetings so far as "positive, serious and pragmatic."
"My impression is that ... all sides are expectant of certain
progress for this round, and that they would take the opinions and
concerns of the others seriously, and work vigorously to make the
new round fruitful," said Qin Gang, spokesman for the Chinese
delegation, at a briefing at the end of the day.
All parties agree to working towards the denuclearization of the
Korean Peninsula, but have yet to decide on how.
"The six-party talks offer a better future for the DPRK," said
US chief negotiator Christopher Hill.
"If the DPRK decides to dismantle its nuclear program
permanently, fully, verifiably," Hill added, the other parties
including the US are prepared to take corresponding measures
consistent with the principle of words for words and actions for
actions.
China, however, has warned that the road to a
nuclear-weapon-free Korean Peninsula might be complicated and
tedious.
"There is a common wish that the Korean Peninsula should be
denuclearized through dialogue within the framework of the
six-party talks," Qin said. "But I think the road is a complicated
one."
Negotiators from the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan
have also voiced hopes that this round of talks would bear some
fruit. In addition, Japan has insisted that the issue of the DPRK's
abduction of Japanese nationals be addressed as well.
Japan's chief negotiator Sasae Kenichiro said in his opening
remarks that outstanding issues of concern such as nuclear
capabilities, arms and abductions should be resolved in a
comprehensive manner.
However, the ROK delegation urged all parties concerned to focus
their efforts on trying to realize the target of building a
nuclear-weapons-free Korean Peninsula.
"It is not ideal for the parties concerned to distract from this
target (of building a nuclear-weapons-free Korean Peninsula) during
the new round of the six-party talks," said Song Min-soon, the
ROK's delegation head and deputy foreign minister.
Chinese analysts said Japan's demand might complicate
things.
"Japan's insistence on discussing the abduction issue will make
the nuclear talks more complicated and will possibly hinder
progress," said Shen Jiru, a professor with the Chinese Academy of
Social Sciences. "That's because the DPRK is strongly opposed to
raising the issue at this time, and the other parties do not
support that either."
(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2005)