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

Posted on: Sunday, 10 July 2005, 21:55 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

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