S.Korean president expresses hope on six-party nuclear talks

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Thursday expressed his hope that the six-party nuclear talks aimed to resolve nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula would bear good result.

Roh made the remarks during his first press conference in 2005 at the Presidential Office.

"The North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) nuclear issue should be solved. I would not make any comment on possible pessimistic predictions for the six-party talks," Roh said to reporters at the televised press conference.

"I hope the six-party nuclear talks will bear good result," added Roh.

However, the president refused to make prediction when the stalled six-party nuclear talks will be resumed.

"The conditions of resuming the (six-party nuclear ) talks is mature and barricades to the talks have already been eliminated, but when the talks will reopen is difficult to forecast," he said.

While on the inter-Korean summit meeting, the South Korean president said he really hopes to meet the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), but it is impossibleat the moment.

"When and where to hold the inter-Korean summit meeting and what's the topic of the meeting is not a problem, however, it is impossible to hold such meeting at present time," Roh said.

In 2000, South Korean then President Kim Dae-jung visited Pyongyang and met DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il. At that time, Kim Jong Il promised to make a return visit to Seoul at a proper time.

Answering question on when South Korea will withdraw its troopsfrom Iraq, Roh said the 3,600 South Korean troops will return homeonly after Iraq realizes peace and stability, and after coordination with the United States as well as other multinationaltroops in Iraq.

Source: Xinhua