Time ripe for NK to take action on denuclearization: Stephens

By Kim Young-jin

The top U.S. envoy to Seoul said Wednesday it was high time North Korea proved through action its intention to denuclearize, stressing that the door to better relations with Washington was still open.

U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, in a speech in Seoul to a fraternity of veteran journalists, reiterated Washington’s stance that Pyongyang must improve ties with Seoul and show “seriousness of purpose” before any resumption of multilateral denuclearization talks.

If it succeeds in doing so, it would be the start of normalized relations between Washington and Pyongyang, a goal the North has long coveted, she said.

“With a commitment, action and denuclearization we can start on that road,” she said. “But we need to get going on this and that is the clear message that we want to send to the leadership in Pyongyang.”

Stephens was referring to a 2005 agreement of the six-party talks under which Pyongyang agreed to denuclearize in exchange for economic assistance, security guarantees and other benefits.

Her remarks came amid ongoing diplomacy over the stalled six-party denuclearization talks after regional players reached a consensus on a three-step plan to resume the forum.

Under the proposal, Seoul and Pyongyang would hold bilateral talks on denuclearization before meeting with Washington, and, later, the full forum.

Failure to denuclearize, Stephens said, would only lead the North down a “dead-end road.” Pyongyang has yet to respond to Seoul’s call for bilateral dialogue on denuclearization.

Her comments also coincided with a trip to Seoul by Stephen Bosworth for talks with senior officials over the resumption the multilateral talks and possible food aid to the North.

Stephens said Bosworth’s trip should be taken as proof that Washington is working to create the right conditions for dialogue.

The North walked away from the talks in 2009 over international sanctions for its nuclear and missile tests. Hopes for resumption were later dashed by its two deadly provocations against the South last year.

Stephens said while the need to move the process along was “urgent,” Washington would not rush forward.

“It is important in any diplomatic process to try to create the conditions for serious and productive negotiation,” she said.

“You want to see actions. But you want to give space for actions that demonstrate seriousness of purpose. This is what we need to work on with a sense of urgency, but we also want to move forward in a productive and positive way.”