S. Korean high level official says, “N. Korea-U.S. talks may be delayed”

Posted on : 2009-09-28 12:26 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
S. Korean official meets with Korean correspondents to talk North Korea policy and Lee’s “Grand Bargain”
 shakes hands with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon before their meeting at UN headquarters in New York
shakes hands with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon before their meeting at UN headquarters in New York

A high-ranking South Korean official visiting the U.S. held a discussion with South Korean correspondents in Washington on Thursday evening. The official said the timing and form of the bilateral talks between the U.S. and North Korea have not yet been concretely decided, and that general expectations are too high. He suggested that progress towards the talks is slow.

The official also said that even if and when North Korea-U.S. talks begin, sanctions will not be immediately lifted as they have been in the past. His statement suggests the U.S. will continue to employ a “two track strategy” of simultaneous sanctions and dialogue. In addition, he said if bilateral talks are held, they must not turn into a forum for negotiations, relegating six-party talks to a mere venue for ratification.

Concerning President Lee Myung-bak’s proposed “Grand Bargain” approach to North Korea, about which South Korea and the U.S. have recently shown differing opinions, the official said the idea was not to negotiate piecemeal like in the past, but rather to agree to everything at one time so that further negotiations are unnecessary. In particular, he stressed that South Korea has been talking with the U.S. about this for months, and that the two sides share the same position.

The meeting between the official and South Korean correspondents was announced suddenly the day before. It appears the meeting’s aim was mostly to serve as a sort of damper concerning the recent string of reports in the South Korean press concerning North Korea-U.S. dialogue. It comes off as a response to “undesirable reports” regarding North Korea-U.S. bilateral talks, including reports of fissures between Seoul and Washington over President Lee’s proposed “Grand Bargain” and the Congressional Research Service’s statement that said the six-party talks will serve as a ratifying venue for North Korea-U.S. negotiations.

Nevertheless, as the discussion moved into its later stage, questions from reporters began to focus on Lee’s “Grand Bargain.” Questions arose over President Lee’s “Grand Bargain” that has been mentioned and moved in a critical direction. Some questions arise over whether solving everything at the same time was realistic, whether anything new could be given to North Korea through a “Grand Bargain,” and whether it would negate the October 3, 2007 Agreement to implement the September 2005 Joint Statement. Ultimately, the official said the Grand Bargain was not a new proposal, that of course resolving everything at once was hard, and that there needs to be a decision on what can be given to North Korea. In so doing, he revealed, in contrast to his original comments, that the Grand Bargain was just a concept, and not a properly prepared plan.

Meanwhile, as North Korea and the U.S. maintain close contact through the North York channel and talking on the phone at least once a day, there are many others who say bilateral North Korea-U.S. talks in one form or another are imminent.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]