WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The United States remains firm in its stance that territorial disputes in Asia should be resolved among the relevant countries, a senior U.S. congressman said Thursday.
"The United States is taking the position that we should do everything we can to get the parties themselves to resolve the issues," Rep. Donald Manzullo, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, said in an interview on Capitol Hill.
He was referring to a series of territorial rows among South Korea, Japan, China and some Southeast Asian countries.
"Our hope is that there will be a resolution. There has to be a resolution," he added.
Manzullo said he supports Washington's role in diffusing tensions.
He pointed out that Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta traveled to China and Japan recently to help cool down tensions in the region.
On North Korea, he expressed hope for a resumption of six-way nuclear talks.
"North Korea simply has to learn by looking at what's going on in the South," he said, citing satellite photos showing the whole bunch of lights in the South but darkness in the North at night.
The 10-term Illinois Republican will leave Congress in January.
He is known for efforts to strengthen the Seoul-Washington alliance.
He is widely expected to take up the post as president of Korea Economic Institute (KEI), a Washington-based agency funded by the South Korean government and tasked with reaching out to American people.
South Korea expects KEI to play a bigger role in dealing with pending issues under his leadership.
Manzullo admitted that he has received a formal offer but he was guarded about his future.
"I'm looking at several opportunities," he said. "I can't say any more than that right now. I am still a member of Congress."
Earlier in the day, meanwhile, Manzullo attended a ceremony hosted by the Child Cancer Caucus, a group of 96 congressional
members, as part of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
South Korea's largest carmaker, Hyundai Motor, received the U.S. national flag from the caucus in recognition of its contribution to the fight against childhood cancer in the U.S.
Manzullo was accompanied by his wife, Freda, a cancer survivor famous for her contribution to cancer awareness.