JAPAN: UNITED STATES AND JAPAN WELCOME REPORTS FROM SOUTH KOREA THAT NORTH KOREA HAS ACCEPTED MULTILATERAL TALKS TO RESOLVE NUCLEAR CRISIS
Record ID:
338248
JAPAN: UNITED STATES AND JAPAN WELCOME REPORTS FROM SOUTH KOREA THAT NORTH KOREA HAS ACCEPTED MULTILATERAL TALKS TO RESOLVE NUCLEAR CRISIS
- Title: JAPAN: UNITED STATES AND JAPAN WELCOME REPORTS FROM SOUTH KOREA THAT NORTH KOREA HAS ACCEPTED MULTILATERAL TALKS TO RESOLVE NUCLEAR CRISIS
- Date: 2nd August 2003
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (AUGUST 1, 2003)(REUTERS) 1. MV U.S. UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE JOHN BOLTON ARRIVING FOR MEETING WITH JAPANESE VICE FOREIGN MINISTER TOSHIMITSU MOTEGI; MV BOLTON AND MOTEGI IN TALKS TOGETHER (6 SHOTS) 0.48 2. LAS TILT DOWN EXTERIOR FOREIGN MINISTRY; SCU MINISTRY SIGN 1.02 3. MV BOLTON AND U.S. DELEGATION MEETING WITH JAPANESE COUNTERPART AMANO FOR A MEETING ON REGIONAL DISARMAMENT (4 SHOTS) 1.34 4. MV MOTEGI MEETING WITH THE PRESS 1.38 5. (SOUNDBITE)(English) JAPANESE VICE FOREIGN MINISTER TOSHIMITSU MOTEGI SAYING "We have basically agreed that the North Korean counter-proposal itself is a good reaction. But we are not sure about the specifics, about the timings or how to proceed with the multilateral talks. So that we are continuing close contact with the United States and other related countries." 2.02 6. MV BOLTON LEAVING FOREIGN MINISTER AND TELLING JOURNALISTS TO WAIT UNTIL HIS PRESS CONFERENCE FOR A COMMENT (3 SHOTS) 2.29 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 17th August 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Reuters ID: LVAE74HHSA7N9WZEH7PBDVN2JQFN
- Story Text: Japan and the U.S. welcomed reports from South Korea
that North Korea has accepted multilateral talks to resolve
the nuclear crisis.
Japan and the United States welcomed reports that
North Korea had apparently accepted proposed multilateral
talks to resolve the impasse over its nuclear weapons
programme but said they would remain wary until the
unpredictable communist state confirmed the plan.
South Korea said on Friday (August 1) that North Korea
had accepted the talks aimed at resolving the international
standoff.
U.S. Undersecretary of State John Bolton held talks
with Japanese Senior Vice Foreign Minister Toshimitsu
Motegi in Tokyo on Friday (August 1) to discuss the North
Korean issue.
In Moscow on Thursday (July 31), the Russian Foreign
Ministry announced that the North Korean ambassador had
said Pyongyang favoured six-party talks, including Russia,
to resolve the standoff.
Bolton told Motegi that the United States was
"encouraged" by North Korea's latest move although
Washington had yet to see details including the timing of a
fresh round of six-nation talks, a Japanese official said.
"We have basically agreed that the North Korean
counter-proposal itself is a good reaction. But we are not
sure about the specifics, about the timings or how to
proceed with the multilateral talks. So that we are
continuing close contact with the United States and other
related countries," Motegi told reporters after their
meeting.
Bolton, in Tokyo on a three-day stay after visiting
Beijing and Seoul this week, said Washington was awaiting
more details from China, which has played a mediator role
in trying to bring Pyongyang to the table for multilateral
talks.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said he hoped
multilateral talks would be held at an early date.
Washington has said it would consider three-way talks
with North Korea and China if they were followed
immediately by broader talks involving South Korea, Japan
and possibly Russia.
The multilateral talks due to be held in Beijing in
April would be the first involving the United States and
North Korea since they met, with China as host.
Cautious hopes of a breakthrough in the nine-month-old
crisis over North Korea's nuclear arms programme rose after
China sent an envoy to Pyongyang in July.
The talks between North Korea and the United States in
April achieved little towards resolving the standoff, which
began last October when U.S. officials said North Korea had
admitted pursuing a secret nuclear programme.
The United States wants to persuade the North Koreans
to dismantle the programme. North Korea wants assurances
that the United States will not attack it.
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