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former North Korea policy coordinator of the U.S. State Department gives an address during the Korean Vision Forum held at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday that resolving the nuclear issue is the only way for North Korea to improve relations with the U.S., and that North Korea “holds the key.” Powell also said that the U.S. wants improved relations with North Korea.

During a special talk delivered at Seoul’s Shilla Hotel on Thursday at the Korea Vision Forum, sponsored by the Ministry of Unification, Powell said that the six-party talks ultimately must lead to the denuclearization of North Korea and the Korean Peninsula. Powell said that the U.S. has been waiting for North Korea to return to the talks.

Regarding the sinking of the Cheonan, Powell noted that President Lee Myung-bak had initiated an investigation into the cause and was considering what was necessary. Powell also said that it is not a time for heightening tensions, and remarked that President Lee also appeared to be moving in that direction.

Albright Stonebridge Group Vice Chair Wendy Sherman, who served as U.S. North Korea Policy Coordinator during the Clinton administration, also said that the international community needed to respond consistently once the results of the investigation on the Cheonan disaster come out. Sherman also said that instability in the Northeast Asian political situation should not be exacerbated. She said that an immediate resumption of the six-party talks would be unlikely if it is determined that North Korea was responsible for the Cheonan’s sinking.

Georgetown University Professor Victor Cha, who served as Director for Asian Affairs in the White House National Security Council during the George W. Bush administration, said that even if it is concluded that North Korea was responsible for the Cheonan incident, a military retaliation is unlikely, as it would risk heightening tensions.

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