North Korea agrees to join nuclear talks

Published on Saturday 10 July 2010 13:55

NORTH Korea has said it is willing to return to international nuclear disarmament talks following the UN Security Council's decision to avoid directly blaming it for the sinking of a South Korean warship.

But South Korea has responded to yesterday's announcement with caution, saying it needs proof.

In a presidential statement the Security Council expressed "deep concern" about the March sinking of the 1,200-ton Cheonan, and findings by a South Korean-led international investigation that North Korea had torpedoed the ship.

But it refrained from directly condemning North Korea - something the North had warned could trigger a military response.

A peace treaty was never signed after the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with a ceasefire, leaving the two still technically at war.

Yesterday North Korea's foreign minister said it "will make consistent efforts for the conclusion of a peace treaty and the denuclearisation through the six-party talks conducted on equal footing."

The news raised hopes that North Korea would return to the nuclear talks, stalled since December 2008.

South Korea will now consult with other countries on how to push for North Korea's denuclearisation, and closely monitor its actions following the Security Council statement.

South Korean foreign ministry spokesman Kim Young-sun said North Korea should "clearly show its commitment to denuclearisation".

He also urged the North to acknowledge and apologise for the sinking of the naval ship Cheonan, in which 46 sailors died.

On Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Beijing hoped relevant parties could "turn over the page on the Cheonan incident as soon as possible".