Kim Asks Envoys' Help In Reviving Peace Talks

President Kim Dae-jung invited 88 senior foreign diplomats to the Blue House Thursday and asked for their support in reviving the stalled peace process on the Korean Peninsula.

Terusuke Terada, the Japanese ambassador, Wu Dawei, the Chinese ambassador and Evans J.R. Revere, acting U.S. ambassador, attended the reception. Although such a reception is held every year, Mr. Kim used the venue to promote his engagement policy toward North Korea to revive contacts between Seoul and Pyongyang, which have been deadlocked since the inauguration of U.S. President George W. Bush.

"The international community, including the United States, Japan, China and Russia as well as the European Union, shares a common interest in peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," said Mr. Kim. "There is no alternative to the sunshine policy to promote peaceful coexistence and exchanges between the two Koreas to prepare for reunification." He cited changes he said were evident in the positions of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, and predicted that both inter-Korean talks and talks between North Korea and the United States will resume in the near future.

by Kim Jin-kook