JAPAN: U.S. envoy says Washington, Japan and South Korea united over North Korea despite territorial disputes.
Record ID:
466682
JAPAN: U.S. envoy says Washington, Japan and South Korea united over North Korea despite territorial disputes.
- Title: JAPAN: U.S. envoy says Washington, Japan and South Korea united over North Korea despite territorial disputes.
- Date: 17th October 2012
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 17, 2012) (REUTERS) (** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ** DAVIES WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED STATES SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR NORTH KOREA POLICY, GLYN DAVIES, SAYING: "When it comes to North Korea, Japan, Korea, the United States really have no difficulty at all in exploring all aspects of the issue, and we often find ourselves very much exactly on the same page." JOURNALIST TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED STATES SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR NORTH KOREA POLICY, GLYN DAVIES, SAYING: "The stability of the relationship between our allies is very important, so it's important to us that they work through this issues." CAMERAMEN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED STATES SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR NORTH KOREA POLICY, GLYN DAVIES, SAYING: "We have on-going from North Korea, on the proliferation front, activities that are concerning illicit activities are continuing, and their defiance of UN Security Council obligations are also a concern - it's dangerous to all of us and destablises this region." JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION TO DAVIES (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED STATES SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR NORTH KOREA POLICY, GLYN DAVIES, SAYING: "Even were North Korea to go down the path of economic reform - they haven't yet - that's no substitute for denuclearisation. It's important that North Korea understands this issue, fulfilling the promises they made for years, the denuclearisation." DAVIES WALKING OFF
- Embargoed: 1st November 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA1WTN7WYN3D2NVKXC3ND08V0FM
- Story Text: U.S. North Korea envoy Glyn Davies says the recent territorial disputes between Japan and South Korea will not affect the countries' cooperation in diplomacy on North Korea's controversial nuclear programmes.
U.S. North Korea envoy Glyn Davies said on Wednesday (October 17) the recent territorial disputes between Japan and South Korea were not affecting cooperation in North Korean issues.
After a trilateral talk in Tokyo with Japanese and South Korean representatives, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy said the three countries are united in their efforts to stop North Korea's nuclear ambition.
"When it comes to North Korea, Japan, Korea, the United States really have no difficulty at all in exploring all aspects of the issue, and we often find ourselves very much exactly on the same page," Davis said in a news conference after the talks.
Japan's ties with South Korea took a sharp turn for the worse after South Korean President Lee Myung-bak visited a disputed island in August, called Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan.
Japan's relations with China further deteriorated when Japan bought another group of disputed islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, from their private owner in mid-September, hurting bilateral trade ties and tourism while sparking protests across China.
Davies said the United States wants all its allies to get along.
"The stability of the relationship between our allies is very important, so it's important to us that they work through these issues," he said.
Japan and South Korea, along with the United States, China and Russia are among the participants of the on-again-off-again six-party talks on the North Korea's nuclear weapon programme.
Many analysts believe the reclusive North is preparing for a third nuclear test, and could even use highly enriched uranium for the first time.
Experts say the North already has enough fissile material from plutonium for at least six nuclear bombs.
Davies said North Korea is still on track to develop nuclear weapons.
"We have on-going from North Korea on the proliferation front activities that are concerning. Illicit activities are continued, and their defiance of UN Security Council obligations are also a concern; it's dangerous to all of us and destabilises this region," he said.
The U.S. envoy dismissed talk of North Korea warming to the idea of economic reforms.
"Even were North Korea to go down the path of economic reform - they haven't yet - that's no substitute for denuclearisation. It's important that North Korea understands this issue, fulfilling the promises they made for years, the denuclearisation," Davies said.
North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-un has reaffirmed his father's "military first" policies that have stunted economic growth, dashing slim hopes of an opening to the outside world.
Kim, who is thought to be aged in his twenties, has presented a differing image than that of his father. He was believed to have signaled his preference towards growth and agricultural reform by sending senior officials to Vietnam and Laos to reportedly discuss economic development. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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