JAPAN/SOUTH KOREA: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State visits Tokyo/Seoul says Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal is targeting South Korea
Record ID:
186905
JAPAN/SOUTH KOREA: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State visits Tokyo/Seoul says Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal is targeting South Korea
- Title: JAPAN/SOUTH KOREA: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State visits Tokyo/Seoul says Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal is targeting South Korea
- Date: 19th September 2009
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (SEPTEMBER 18, 2009) (REUTERS) (CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY) EXTERIOR OF JAPANESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS KURT CAMPBELL ARRIVING CAMPBELL MEETING WITH JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER KATSUYA OKADA OKADA AND CAMPBELL SHAKING HANDS DELEGATES TAKING THEIR SEATS AROUND A TABLE CAMPBELL SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS KURT CAMPBELL SAYING "I'm very pleased to be here in Japan, as part of an effort over the next several weeks and months to make sure we're as closely coordinated as possible on all the issues that confront the United States and Japan in the 21st century. And I'm very honored that you took the time to meet with me, and I look forward to the closest possible relationship with you." THE MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER KATSUYA OKADA SAYING: "The Japan-America relationship has challenges ahead, as Mr. Campbell just said, but in order to allow the Japan-U.S. alliance to deepen and continue for the next 30-50 years, I hope to commit myself fully as Foreign Minister toward that goal." MORE OF THE MEETING SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (SEPTEMBER 18, 2009) (REUTERS) SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER YU MYUNG-HWAN WALKING TOWARD PODIUM ON STAGE AUDIENCE CLAPPING YU SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREA'S FOREIGN MINISTER YU MYUNG-HWAN SAYING "North Korea's development of nuclear weapons, its nuclear armament, is targeted at the South where freedom and democracy is upheld, economic growth is pursued and where the people are allowed to live in comfort." AUDIENCE SOUTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR ENVOY WI SUNG-LAC (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREA'S FOREIGN MINISTER YU MYUNG-HWAN SAYING "What the North is pursuing, before and after the Korean War and to this day, is communist unification. And the development of nuclear weapons is a tool for that." AUDIENCE YOU SPEAKING YOU WALKING DOWN FROM PODIUM VIEW OF NATIONAL DEFENCE COMMITTEE HALL DEFENCE MINISTER NOMINEE KIM TAE-YOUNG AT PARLIAMENTARY HEARING LAWMAKER ASKING QUESTION KIM ANSWERING (SOUNDBITE) KIM TAE-YOUNG, DEFENCE MINISTER NOMINEE, SAYING: "Since that situation would be a serious threat to our national security, I think my position will not be changed." VIEW OF DEFENCE COMMITTEE HALL
- Embargoed: 4th October 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAAWI46G82OUFQIW4BHQNNEPBAH
- Story Text: United States' Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell met with Japan's new foreign minister, Katsuya Okada on Friday (September 18), as South Korea warned it was the target of the North's development of nuclear weapons.
While there is no set agenda for the trip, there is the possibility that the issue of North Korea would come up.
Campbell told the conference with Okada that he plans to deal with whatever issues may face the Japan-U.S. alliance.
"I'm very pleased to be here in Japan, as part of an effort over the next several weeks and months to make sure we're as closely coordinated as possible on all the issues that confront the United States and Japan in the 21st century. And I'm very honored that you took the time to meet with me, and I look forward to the closest possible relationship with you," Campbell told those gathered.
Foreign Minister Okada also referred to the challenges facing the alliance, but pledged to work towards strengthening it in the future.
"The Japan-America relationship has challenges ahead, as Mr. Campbell just said, but in order to allow the Japan-U.S. alliance to deepen and continue for the next 30-50 years, I hope to commit myself fully as Foreign Minister toward that goal," he said.
Meantime, South's Foreign Minister Yu Mung-hwan said on Friday his country is the prime target of the North's nuclear arsenal.
South Korea has been trying to get the North back to six-way talks on ending its nuclear ambitions in return for economic aid and diplomatic rewards, but Pyongyang has refused to return to the table and instead sought direct negotiations with Washington.
The North has made a series of conciliatory gestures toward the South and the United States recently, while issuing more nuclear threats including a pledge to produce highly enriched uranium, which would give it a new way to make nuclear arms.
"North Korea's development of nuclear weapons, its nuclear armament, is targeted at the South where freedom and democracy is upheld, economic growth is pursued and where the people are allowed to live in comfort," Yu told a forum of business leaders.
"What the North is pursuing, before and after the Korean War and to this day, is communist unification. And the development of nuclear weapons is a tool for that," said Yu.
The comments were unusually bold in charging the North with aggressive intentions after the rivals pledged at a summit in 2000 to end hostility and improve ties, even as they remain technically at war since their 1950-53 conflict.
North Korea has conducted a series of long-range rocket tests in defiance of international warnings and set off a nuclear device in May, triggering U.N. Security Council sanctions that analysts have said are beginning to dry up its already meager coffers.
At a parliamentary hearing on Friday (September 18), the country's defence minister nominee Kim Tae-young was asked if he still has the same position from last year that he would destroy the North's nuclear facility first if the army pre-confirms the North's use of nuclear weapons at a war.
"Since that situation would be a serious threat to our national security, I think my position will not be changed," said Kim.
The United States has said it is prepared to hold direct talks to try to bring North Korea back to the six-way negotiations, which also involve Japan, Russia and China.
Yu said on Thursday (September 17) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao would likely visit the North early next month as part of efforts to end Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.
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