Bosworth to tour Asia, but North is not on itinerary
Published: 29 Aug. 2009, 00:05
WASHINGTON - The U.S. point man on North Korea, Ambassador Stephen Bosworth, will travel to Asian capitals in the next few days, the State Department said Thursday. Pyongyang is not on his itinerary.
“I would expect that the ambassador will travel to the region for consultations in the coming days,” said Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of state for public affairs. “This trip, when it happens, and when that decision is made, will be to consult with the key countries in the region who have been part of the six-party process.”
“He will not go to North Korea,” the spokesman said. “I do not envision that it will include discussions with anyone from North Korea.”
Crowley denied reports that the North had extended a formal invitation to Bosworth, who is special representative for North Korea policy, and Sung Kim, special envoy for the six-party talks, to discuss the talks on the country’s denuclearization, which also involve South Korea, China, Japan and Russia.
The multilateral talks have been stalled since international sanctions were slapped on North Korea after its nuclear and missile tests in recent months.
Earlier reports said that North Korea had extended an invitation to the United States when former U.S. President Bill Clinton visited Pyongyang to win the release of two American journalists. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il met with Clinton for more than three hours, calling for a resumption of dialogue.
North Korea has made a series of overtures in recent weeks. The country wants to deal with Washington bilaterally, but the U.S. insists on having two-way talks only within the six-nation framework. Yonhap
“I would expect that the ambassador will travel to the region for consultations in the coming days,” said Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of state for public affairs. “This trip, when it happens, and when that decision is made, will be to consult with the key countries in the region who have been part of the six-party process.”
“He will not go to North Korea,” the spokesman said. “I do not envision that it will include discussions with anyone from North Korea.”
Crowley denied reports that the North had extended a formal invitation to Bosworth, who is special representative for North Korea policy, and Sung Kim, special envoy for the six-party talks, to discuss the talks on the country’s denuclearization, which also involve South Korea, China, Japan and Russia.
The multilateral talks have been stalled since international sanctions were slapped on North Korea after its nuclear and missile tests in recent months.
Earlier reports said that North Korea had extended an invitation to the United States when former U.S. President Bill Clinton visited Pyongyang to win the release of two American journalists. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il met with Clinton for more than three hours, calling for a resumption of dialogue.
North Korea has made a series of overtures in recent weeks. The country wants to deal with Washington bilaterally, but the U.S. insists on having two-way talks only within the six-nation framework. Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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