Asia-Pacific

ROK leader ready for nuclear talks with DPRK's Kim

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-30 09:49

SEOUL: The Republic of Korea's (ROK) president says he is willing to meet the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) leader this year to discuss its nuclear weapons program despite a recent flare-up in border tensions.

ROK leader ready for nuclear talks with DPRK's Kim

President Lee Myung-bak made the comment in an interview aired Friday, as the DPRK fired artillery for a third day during military exercises near its disputed western sea border with the ROK.

The firing, which on Wednesday prompted return artillery fire by the ROK, has caused no reported casualties or damage. It comes amid mixed signs from the DPRK, which has recently appeared more keen to engage the ROK in dialogue after ballistic missile and nuclear tests last year drew UN sanctions, while still threatening its rival.

Lee's two liberal predecessors held talks with DPRK's leader Kim Jong Il in 2000 and 2007. Lee has taken a tougher approach toward DPRK since taking office in 2008, worsening bilateral relations, but has indicated several times he is willing to meet Kim.

"I am always ready to meet with Chairman Kim Jong-il," Lee told the BBC, according to a text released by his office.

"There is no reason not to meet (him) even within this year" if it promotes peace on the Korean peninsula and DPRK's nuclear disarmament," he said.

ROK news media reported last year the two countries had held a series of secret meetings to discuss a possible summit, but failed to breach wide differences.

Lee told the BBC that the health of Kim - who turns 68 next month and is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008 - has improved. He also said that while DPRK is facing serious economic difficulties, it is not on the verge of collapse.

His comments came as the DPRK fired about 20 artillery rounds into its western waters, ROK's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, adding that the military was closely monitoring the DPRK drills which Pyongyang says are part of an annual exercise. The DPRK has designated two no-sail zones in the area, including some ROK-held waters, through March 29.

The western sea border has been a constant source of tension between the two Koreas. Their navies fought a skirmish in November that left one DPRK sailor dead and three others wounded, and engaged in bloodier battles in the area in 1999 and 2002.

Lee said this week's artillery shelling could be an attempt by DPRK to emphasize that the peninsula remains a war zone and push for a peace treaty formally ending the 1950-53 Korean War. That conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty, leaving the peninsula technically at war.

The DPRK is said to believe a peace treaty with the US would provide security and status, help ensure the survival of its government, and give it a stronger hand against rival ROK.

The ROK and the US have insisted that DPRK must return to nuclear disarmament talks it quit last year before any treaty can be concluded.

Lee also said the DPRK's strategy of delaying a resolution of the nuclear impasse would not work. He said the DPRK is not abandoning its nuclear programs but rather is offering gestures for dialogue aimed at avoiding economic difficulties under the UN sanctions imposed last year.

The DPRK argues it was compelled to develop nuclear weapons to cope with a military threat from the US, and has demanded a peace treaty and the lifting of sanctions before it rejoins the nuclear talks.