N Korea talks on ‘the right track’
President Moon says discussions to end nuclear issues are proving positive
SINGAPORE Talks on ending North Koreas nuclear issues are on the right track despite possible difficulties down the road, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said yesterday, according to his top press secretary.
Negotiations between North Korea and the United States are now on the right track, Moon was quoted as saying.
No one can be sure of a positive outcome yet, but I carefully predict that North Korea-US negotiations may produce enough success if North Korea implements its complete denuclearisation and the international community join their efforts to guarantee North Koreas security, he added, according to his top press secretary Yoon Youngchan.
The remarks were made in Moons meeting with Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and a summit with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong held here.
Such remarks come amid a possible gap between Washington and Pyongyang on how to move ahead with the denuclearisation process, which became more apparent following US Secretary of State Mike Pompeos latest trip to North Korea that marked the start of US, N Korea still in talks to set date for meeting over
repatriation of American troop remains: source SEOUL US and North Korea are still in talks to set a date for workinglevel dialogue over the repatriation of remains of American troops killed during the 1950-53 Korean War, a diplomatic source here said yesterday.
The two sides were expected to meet at the inter-Korean border truce village of Panmunjom yesterday to hash out the details of the repatriation, but the talks did not occur.
The US side had had discussions with the North with an aim to hold the talks as early as July 12, but it appeared that the North was not ready for the talks, the source told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity.
The two sides are currently communicating to determine when to meet. There appears to be a possibility that the US could make some announcement soon, he added. YONHAP
high-level denuclearisation dialogue.
Meeting with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts in Tokyo after his North Korea trip, Pompeo said the denuclearization process began to move forward.
North Korea, on the other hand, accused the US of making gangster-like demands for its unconditional and complete denuclearisation in a statement issued immediately after Pompeos departure.
Moon said the North Korean statement was only the kind of complaint often seen in negotiations.
North Korea criticised the US in a statement issued by its foreign ministry, but what the statement contains is a complaint about it sincerely taking all practical measures and the US not taking corresponding measures,
he said, according to Yoon.
President Moon also noted the negotiations may take time and even face many difficulties.
There are mixed views but I believe the two sides have entered a normal process and that practical working-level negotiations have been launched, Yoon quoted him as saying.
The South Korean leader also insisted they now had better chance than ever to finally rid North Korea of its nuclear issues.
There have been questions if the denuclearisation North Korea has been talking about was the same as the denuclearization the US and South Korea have been talking about, Moon said.
Secretary Pompeos North Korea visit has confirmed that there is no difference between the two on the concept of denuclearisation.
Another important point is that what North Korea is demanding from the US is not the removal of sanctions or economic compensation like in the past but the termination of their hostile relationship and establishment of trust, Moon added, apparently implying that the success of the denuclearisation talks may be much more likely.
President Halimah said Singapore and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will continue to support and assist President Moon and his country in their efforts to build peace, according to Yoon.
Moon also called for efforts to further expand economic cooperation between his country and Singapore, also calling for joint efforts to promote free trade in the region and the world.
The foundation of our countries economic growth is free trade and open market. Singapore and South Korea are open countries and free trade nations, and therefore must join their strength to stop the spread of trade protectionism, the South Korean president said in a business forum attended by some 300 government officials and business leaders from both countries. YONHAP