Asia-Pacific

S.Korea to continue pursuing 'grand bargain' over DPRK

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-04 14:38

SEOUL: South Korea's top diplomat said Monday that the country will continue pursuing what is called a "grand bargain" designed to help bring denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), local media reported.

"For the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the DPRK, the country will seek a grand bargain based on close cooperation with five other countries in the (six-party) talks," Seoul's Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said.

"The ministry will redouble its efforts to resume the six-party talks," local media quoted Yu as saying.

A grand bargain proposal, made by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in September, is aimed at achieving the DPRK's denuclearization at once, rather than gradually approaching the goal in phases, in return for international aid and other incentives for the DPRK.

Yu's remark follows his earlier comment suggesting a possible resumption of the deadlocked six-way talks on nuclear issues of the DPRK, which involves DPRK, South Korea, China, the United States, Japan and Russia.

Last week, Yu reportedly told local media that discussions to resume the stalled talks are underway and participating countries in the six-party negotiations are waiting for the response of the DPRK following US special nuclear envoy Stephen Bosworth's recent visit to Pyongyang.