Asia-Pacific

S. Korea: Peace talks only possible after DPRK makes progress

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-12 21:46

SEOUL: South Korea on Tuesday reiterated its stance on talks over a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, noting that such dialogue can only be held after the six-party negotiations are resumed and progress is achieved in the denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ( DPRK).

The statement by South Korea's foreign ministry spokesman Kim Young-sun came one day after the DPRK proposed discussing a peace treaty with relevant state parties to replace the Armistice Agreement that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War, either in the framework of the six-party talks, or in a "separate forum" as what the Joint Statement of September 2005 proposed.

The South Korean government has repeatedly stated its position that if the six-party talks are resumed and there is progress in the process of the DPRK's denuclearization, the related countries can negotiate a peace treaty at a separate forum as stated in the Joint Statement of 19 September 2005, the spokesman said in the statement.

The statement urged the DPRK to immediately return to the six- party forum and begin taking steps toward the irreversible denuclearization.

It also said the "grand bargain" proposed by Seoul is a package of solution that includes the elements of the Joint Statement of 19 September 2005, and South Korea hoped that the six-party talks will be resumed for detailed negotiations based on the "grand bargain".

South Korea will keep close consultations with related countries engaged in the six-party talks, and continue its diplomatic efforts to seek the early resumption of the international nuclear disarmament negotiations and the denuclearization of the DPRK, the statement said.