Bush softening no-talks stance

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Bush softening no-talks stance

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President George W. Bush reiterated yesterday that the United States has no intention of invading North Korea and called on the North to comply with its international obligations.

He also said the North Korean nuclear issue would be resolved peacefully and diplomatically. Mr. Bush said the United States would have dialogue with the North, but other officials said talks would have to be preceded by the North disavowing nuclear ambitions.

"We expect people to keep their word," Mr. Bush said, referring to the 1994 agreement reached between Washington and Pyeongyang to freeze the North's nuclear program. The North "is in an agreement with the United States," Mr. Bush said. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il should do "what he says he's going to do," he said.

The members of the Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group, a consultative council on North Korean issues of South Korea, Japan and the United States, began meetings yesterday in Washington. A South Korean government official said after a bilateral meeting with U.S. officials that they had agreed that it was necessary for the North to take steps to dismantle its nuclear program before there could be a resolution to the issue.

The official said the two sides agreed on the urgency of the situation and would join in a diplomatic effort to persuade the North to take positive measures. "We agreed that the situation must be kept from deteriorating," he said. He added that reports of Seoul's plan to mediate between Washington and Pyeongyang with a compromise proposal were not appropriate. A trilateral meeting is scheduled for today.

The French AFP news agency quoted U.S. officials as suggesting that a change in tone may be developing in the U.S. position that it would not begin dialogue until the North moves to give up its nuclear program.

North Korea's official Korea Central News Agency reiterated its demand yesterday for the United States to enter into dialogue. U.S.-led sea maneuvers to intercept North Korean vessels are akin to "full-fledged sanctions intended to isolate and kill us," it said.

myoja@joongang.co.kr

Kim Jin
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