N.Korea may divert focus of talks – S.Korea media

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea may try to steer six-country
talks away from its nuclear arms programs by focusing
negotiations instead on general disarmament, South Korean
newspapers said on Monday.

North Korea said on Saturday it had agreed to return to
six-way talks that include South Korea, China, Japan, Russia
and the United States on its nuclear arms programs in the week
of July 25 after a break of more than a year.

In editorials on Monday, South Korean newspapers said North
Korea must follow up on its decision by making real progress at
the negotiating table.

Some analysts have said immediate progress was unlikely at
the talks, especially after North Korea said in March the talks
should be turned into disarmament discussions where it is
treated like a member of the nuclear weapons club, on par with
Washington.

There has been little progress to show after three rounds
of the talks. The last round was held in June 2004 in Beijing.

“As the direction of the nuclear crisis again heads toward
negotiations, we hope to see practical results this time,” the
centrist daily JoongAng Ilbo said in an editorial.

The paper said the prospects for progress at the talks were
dim. “It is highly likely that the North, which has declared
its possession of nuclear weapons, will play the ‘disarmament
talks’ card,” it said.

North Korea said in February it possessed nuclear weapons.

The conservative Dong-A Ilbo also said the United States
and South Korea must stand together to make sure North Korea
does not try and divert the talks.

“Seoul and Washington must be firm about not accepting
Pyongyang’s demands if it avoids or attempts to delay the
six-party talks,” it said.

The conservative Chosun Ilbo said the North tried to secure
gains by delaying the talks for over a year. It said patience
is wearing thin among major powers and North Korea risked
further isolation if it does not seriously approach the
six-party process.

“The (North Korean) regime will find that the sooner it
renounces its nuclear program the more likely it is to
survive,” it said.

Traders said the news of North Korea’s return to the talks
helped to lift shares in Seoul in early trading but it was not
the main driver in the market.

“The good performance by U.S. stocks on Friday led to
strong gains, while the news from North Korea over the weekend
is also having a positive impact,” said Hwang Chang-jung, an
analyst at Woori Investment and Securities.