U.S. envoy coordinates stances on U.S.-DPRK talks with S Korea

SEOUL, Dec. 7 -- Stephen Bosworth, U.S. envoy to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday met with South Korea's chief nuclear envoy, Wi Sung-lac, in Seoul a day before he heads for Pyongyang, to coordinate stances on the upcoming U.S.-DPRK bilateral dialogue.

Bosworth made no comment to media after the closed meeting with Wi, while Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-yong told reporters at a press briefing late the day that the two sides reconfirmed the bilateral talks between Washington and Pyongyang will focus on facilitating early resumption of the six-party talks and securing DPRK's reaffirmation of the Joint Statement of September 19 2005.

The Joint Statement, in which the DPRK promised to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs in return for economic aid, diplomatic recognition and establishment of a permanent peace regime to replace the armistice that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War, was reached during the fourth round of the six-party nuclear talks.

As for a peace treaty and the normalization of U.S.-DPRK relations likely to be put forward by Pyongyang as preconditions for its returning to the six-party nuclear disarmament talks, both U.S. and South Korean side also reaffirmed that the issues should be discussed "at a separate forum" in light of the Joint Statement, a government official was quoted by local media as saying.

The two sides also confirmed that the package solution will be discussed with the DPRK based on its irreversible denuclearization only after it comes back to the six-party talks, the official added.

Bosworth also met with Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan earlier in the day, and held a meeting with Kim Sung-hwan, senior secretary to President Lee Myung-bak for security and foreign affairs.

The U.S. envoy, accompanied by four other members including Sung Kim, U.S. negotiator to the six-party talks, will leave for the DPRK Tuesday morning from the Osan Air Force Base.

Wrapping up his stay in Pyongyang on Thursday, Bosworth will return to Seoul, where he will brief the Seoul government on the result of the trip.

He will fly to Beijing on Friday, and head for Washington on Dec. 15 after visiting Tokyo and Moscow.