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Old 05-16-2005, 07:39 AM
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Default Koreas Resume Nuclear Talks

AP


South Korean officials told North Korea on Monday that its removal of spent nuclear fuel rods from a reactor ? a process that could allow it to harvest more weapons-grade plutonium ? has aggravated tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The South also promised the North "a substantial proposal" if it returns to six-party talks.

The first direct talks between the rival Koreas in 10 months came even as a top U.S. security official promised unspecified action against North Korea if it carried out a nuclear test.

South Korea said it urged the North to return to six-party nuclear disarmament talks.

A Japanese official on Sunday echoed comments from Stephen Hadley, President Bush's national security adviser, that a North Korean nuclear test would provoke action.

"We've seen some evidence that says that they may be preparing for a nuclear test," Hadley said in an interview with CNN. "Obviously, that would be a serious step, and it would require us to consult very closely with our colleagues on the six-party talks for what kind of response we should make."

He said a nuclear test "would be something where the North Koreans would be defying not only us, but our partners in the six-party talks, and action would ... have to be taken."

Shinzo Abe, secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Tokyo would take the issue to the United Nations.

"It is unthinkable not to impose any sanctions in case of a nuclear testing," Abe said.

Last week, North Korea ratcheted up the issue by claiming it had completed removing spent fuel rods from a reactor at its main nuclear complex and said it would strengthen its nuclear arsenal. That raised concerns about a possible nuclear test, spurring the public warnings by U.S. and Japanese officials.

U.S. officials then said spy satellites saw the digging of a tunnel and the construction of a reviewing stand at northeastern Kilju ? possible indications of an upcoming test.

But South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-soon downplayed the prospects of a nuclear test.

"The reports that are coming out are artificial and groundless that have no specific evidence to back them up," Song said Monday in an interview with South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

A South Korean delegation commuted Monday to the two-day talks in the North Korean border town of Kaesong. The first day ended after six hours.

Pool reports from journalists covering the meeting said South Korea urged the North Koreans to return to the negotiating table.

"If the six-party talks resume, it shouldn't be talks for the sake of talks, but substantial progress is necessary," said Vice Unification Minister Rhee Bong-jo, who led the South Korean delegation. "For this, the South side is preparing for a substantial proposal and will propose it to the related countries when the talks resume."

Rhee, who reported that North Korea listened to his points on the nuclear issue without comment, said the details of the proposal will be revealed in detail after consultations with the related countries.

The meeting coincides with efforts to resume nuclear disarmament talks involving the United States, Russia, China, Japan and the two Koreas. Washington's top envoy in that dispute, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, met Monday with his South Korean counterparts.

"We are doing everything to get this six-party process going, and we really want to, but that does not mean we are not going to look eventually at other options," Hill told South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon.

South Korean Vice Unification Minister Rhee Bong-jo said he would also use the talks this week to improve relations with the North. North Korea's chief delegate, Kim Man Gil, said the discussions were "vital" to regenerate ties.

Talks between the two Koreas broke off last July after mass defections to South Korea from the North that it labeled kidnappings.

The removal of spent fuel rods was the latest provocation since North Korea claimed in February that it had nuclear weapons and would indefinitely boycott arms talks until Washington drops its "hostile" policy.

The latest nuclear standoff with North Korea was sparked in late 2002 after U.S. officials accused the North of running a secret uranium enrichment program.
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