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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, August 3, 2009

North Korean nuclear talks to begin tomorrow at East-West Center


By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writer

South Korea’s nuclear envoy will meet at Honolulu’s East-West Center beginning tomorrow with the U.S. diplomat in charge of North Korea policy to discuss issues including the implementation of sanctions adopted by the United Nation’s Security Council following North Korea’s latest nuclear and missile tests, according to the U.S. Department of State.

Envoy Wi Sung-lac, special representative for Korean Peninsula for Peace and Security Affairs, will meet tomorrow and Wednesday with U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim, special envoy for the Six-Party Talks. The Talks involving North and South Korea, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan aims to deal with the de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
The discussions in Hawaii this week are expected to be wide ranging, the State Department said.
Although the meetings will be at the East-West Center beginning tomorrow, the center will not be involved with the talks, center spokeswoman Karen Knudsen said.
Nor will South Korea Consul General Bong Joo Kim, according to the Republic of Korea Consulate General. Bong will serve the meeting in a supportive role, the Consulate General said.
Pyongyang has said that it would not return to the Six-Party Talks, but would be willing to meet with Washington on a one-to-one basis.
The United States has said it can talk bilaterally with North Korean officials, but only within the six-party framework.
Last month the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1874 that enhances sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including member nations inspecting cargo vessels and airplanes suspected of carrying military material in or out of the Communist country. The resolution was drafted in response to North Korea’s May 25 nuclear test.
U.S. Special Envoy Stephen Bosworth is also in Hawaii but isn’t expected to take part in the meeting, the State Department said. Bosworth is participating in the Senior Policy Seminar at the East-West Center on behalf of Tufts University, the State Department said.