By Seo Dong-shin
Staff Reporter


Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Monday that North Korea presented a roadmap toward its ultimate abandonment of nuclear weapons during the initial stage of the fifth round of the six-nation talks, which recessed last week in Beijing.

According to Chung, the North Korean roadmap consists of five steps: suspension of nuclear tests; ban on nuclear relocation; ban on further nuclear production; verifiable stoppage of nuclear activities and dismantlement; return to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

``There has been skepticism as to whether North Korea would really go for denuclearization, but the six nations have no disagreement on that issue and the North also reaffirmed the stance,’’ Chung said at a meeting organized by a broadcasting journalists’ club in Seoul.

He was answering a question what are the accomplishments of the fifth round of the talks, where the United States, China, Japan and Russia are attending as well as two Koreas to end the North’s nuclear program.

During last week’s six-party talks in Beijing, some Japanese and Russian media reported that North Korea offered a three- or four-step roadmap for its nuclear dismantlement at the negotiation table, but South Korean officials refused to confirm the reports.

Chung, who also chairs the presidential National Security Council (NSC), said that it will take time to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. “But a big picture has been drawn up by the Sept. 19 joint statement issued at the end of the fourth round of talks. We have already agreed on which way to exit. We’re just seeking ways from the entrance to the exit.’’

As to the North’s demand that the U.S. lift economic sanctions, Chung said that the issue is not included in the frame of the six-nation talks, but it is nevertheless linked to the core of the nuclear row.

``North Korea regards the nuclear row as a result of hostile bilateral relations between itself and the U.S.,’’ Chung said. ``The North seems to be thinking that the U.S. has not changed its hostile policy against it for the past two months since the Sept. 19 joint statement, which said the two will undertake to respect each other’s sovereignty, exist peacefully together and take steps to normalize their relations.’’

Chung also expressed hope that the ongoing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Pusan (Busan) will serve as an opportunity to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula, as well as expand multilateral economic ties.

``North Korean delegates have not come to the APEC meeting, but South Korea will seek to cement peace on the peninsula through various bilateral summits and multilateral talks with participating countries during the APEC forum,’’ he said.

Minister Chung said that the second inter-Korean summit will not necessarily be held in Seoul, hinting at the possibility of President Roh Moo-hyun visiting Pyongyang. When former President Kim Dae-jung met North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in June 2000, the North Korean leader promised a return visit to Seoul.

``But five years have passed since then, and considering changes of the circumstances surrounding the peninsula, I personally think what is important is the principle that another summit is necessary, and that the place is not a matter of priority,’’ he said.

saltwall@koreatimes.co.kr