By Yi Whan-woo
Sydney Seiler, the U.S. special envoy to the six-party talks, will meet South Korean officials, Monday, in his first visit to Seoul since the U.S.-led nuclear deal was reached between Iran and six world powers on July 14.
Seiler, who arrived in the capital, Sunday, will discuss ways to step up efforts to denuclearize North Korea with Hwang Joon-kook, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It said the U.S. envoy will also meet Kim Gunn, who serves as director general for North Korean nuclear affairs.
Seiler's visit to Seoul comes as part of his trip to three six-party member countries, including China and Japan, until Aug. 1 amid growing interest in whether North Korea will follows Iran's footsteps to dismantle its nuclear program.
Seiler will leave for Beijing, Tuesday. From there he will travel to Tokyo before returning home.
The foreign ministry did not comment whether its officials and Seiler will discuss Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions in relation to Tehran's deal with the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany, a group collectively known as the P5+1.
Analysts, however, said that the U.S. envoy's visit is seen as a warning against North Korea to resume the long-stalled six-party talks and settle its nuclear program through dialogue.
"Washington is making sure it will step up pressure on Pyongyang jointly with Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo to get North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.
Yang cited that Hwang took a trip to China from July 19 to 24 to discuss North Korea's nuclear threats.
Upon returning home, Hwang told the media that some Beijing officials expect the Iranian nuclear deal to serve as a catalyst in bringing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
"It's possible that Hwang will give an overview on his Beijing trip to Seiler," Yang said.
An Chan-il, head of the World Institute for North Korea Studies, had a similar view.
"The U.S. government may attempt to lay the groundwork to resolve Pyongyang's nuclear program with President Barack Obama having less than two years before leaving the office," he said.
The historic deal in Vienna, Austria on July 14 will stop Iran from enriching uranium and developing nuclear weapons in return for progressively lifting economic sanctions led by the U.S. for decades.
The deal will also make North Korea in the long term the only U.N. member state that will be under sanctions for pursuing nuclear program.
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| Sydney Seiler |
Seiler, who arrived in the capital, Sunday, will discuss ways to step up efforts to denuclearize North Korea with Hwang Joon-kook, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It said the U.S. envoy will also meet Kim Gunn, who serves as director general for North Korean nuclear affairs.
Seiler's visit to Seoul comes as part of his trip to three six-party member countries, including China and Japan, until Aug. 1 amid growing interest in whether North Korea will follows Iran's footsteps to dismantle its nuclear program.
Seiler will leave for Beijing, Tuesday. From there he will travel to Tokyo before returning home.
The foreign ministry did not comment whether its officials and Seiler will discuss Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions in relation to Tehran's deal with the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany, a group collectively known as the P5+1.
Analysts, however, said that the U.S. envoy's visit is seen as a warning against North Korea to resume the long-stalled six-party talks and settle its nuclear program through dialogue.
"Washington is making sure it will step up pressure on Pyongyang jointly with Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo to get North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.
Yang cited that Hwang took a trip to China from July 19 to 24 to discuss North Korea's nuclear threats.
Upon returning home, Hwang told the media that some Beijing officials expect the Iranian nuclear deal to serve as a catalyst in bringing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
"It's possible that Hwang will give an overview on his Beijing trip to Seiler," Yang said.
An Chan-il, head of the World Institute for North Korea Studies, had a similar view.
"The U.S. government may attempt to lay the groundwork to resolve Pyongyang's nuclear program with President Barack Obama having less than two years before leaving the office," he said.
The historic deal in Vienna, Austria on July 14 will stop Iran from enriching uranium and developing nuclear weapons in return for progressively lifting economic sanctions led by the U.S. for decades.
The deal will also make North Korea in the long term the only U.N. member state that will be under sanctions for pursuing nuclear program.
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