Russian Envoy Starts Talks with DPRK on Nuke Issue

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, January 19, 2003

Russian Envoy Starts Talks with DPRK on Nuke Issue

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov Saturday arrived in Pyongyang and started talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on the nuclear issue, while the UN envoy warned that the crisis might escalate and called on the United States and the DPRK to build up mutual trust.

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Russian Envoy Arrives in Pyongyang

Russian Envoy in Pyongyang

A Russian special envoy, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov, Saturday started talks on the Korean nuclear issue with Kang Sok Ju, first vice foreign minister of the DPRK.

Losyukov came up with Russia's package proposals on the settlement of the nuclear issue during the meeting.

It is reported that the proposals include bilateral and multilateral talks, strict compliance with the Agreed Framework for all sides and maintenance of the DPRK's security.

Losyukov, who arrived in Pyongyang on Saturday afternoon and is expected to stay until Tuesday, had expressed his hope to hold constructive talks with the DPRK side.

Russia has repeatedly called for a peaceful solution to the DPRK crisis. The Russian Foreign Ministry proposed a "package solution" last Friday, calling for non-nuclear status on the Korean Peninsula, bilateral and multilateral dialogue as well as resumption of humanitarian and economic programs in the DPRK.

China, Russia Urge All Parties to "Keep Calm"

Chinese and Russian officials Friday urged all parties concerned "to keep calm and exercise restraint" over the nuclear issue of the DPRK.

Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losiukov had a luncheon, during which they called on the parties to continue seeking a peaceful solution through dialogue under the current complicated situation.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue, both Yang and Losiukov called for efforts "to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, support a nuclear-free Korea Peninsula, and settle the nuclear issue through dialogue."

Zhang said the two officials "exchanged views on Sino-Russian relations, the DPRK nuclear issue and other issues of common concern."

UN Envoy Warns the Nuke Crisis Might Escalate

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's special envoy on Saturday warned that the nuclear crisis in the DPRK might get worse unless the United States and the DPRK started trusting each other.

The envoy, Maurice Strong, arrived in Beijing after a four-day mission to the DPRK. He told reporters at the airport: "There is aserious and ominous risk that this crisis could escalate."

Strong said the DPRK also wish to solve the stand-off peacefully, and the core problem now is "a breakdown of trust and communication" with the United States.

He said the DPRK made it clear to him that they had no plans to acquire nuclear weapons and were willing to talk. "What the DPRK is saying is that they want to resolve it peacefully, but ... they're also saying that they are determined to go to war if that is required for their security and the integrity of their nation," he added.

DPRK: Nuclear Issue Result of US Hostile Policy

The DPRK's Minju Joson daily said Saturday in a commentary that the nuclear crisis is a result of the US hostile policy toward the DPRK.

"It is difficult to estimate the prospect of the confrontation between the United States and the DPRK. But it is clear that the solution of all the problems depends on whether the United States would give up the hostile policy and resolve the nuclear problem by peaceful means or not."

The commentary also warned Japan that "if it goes reckless in support of the US moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK, it will have to pay dearly for that."

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