Kurt Campbell (centre) said North and South Korea have to talk to each other
Progress towards ending North Korea’s nuclear programme rests on re-engagement between North and South Korea, a top US diplomat has said.
The US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told reporters that some signs of cross-border dialogue could be found but more were needed.
Multinational talks on how to end the North’s nuclear plans have stalled.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is also thought to be grooming his youngest son Kim Jong-un to succeed him.
Efforts to restart the nuclear talks have been hindered by tensions over the alleged North Korean sinking of a South Korean warship, the Cheonan, on 26 March this year, at a cost of 46 South Korean lives.
Mr Campbell, whose latest visit to Seoul ends later today, said “some signs of dialogue, engagement between North and South Koreas and we encourage that process to continue”.
Last week, the two Koreas agreed to organise a reunion of families divided by the Korean War – the first in a year.
South Korea has also said it is considering a proposal from the North to restart a stalled tourism joint venture.
“The critical component in terms of developments on the some Korean peninsula, in the current environment, is to see re-engagement between North and South Koreas,” Mr Campbell told reporters.
“We’re sending a very clear message that we have total trust and confidence in a partner in South Korea.
Kim Jong-un has been promoted to the pinnacle of North Korean power
“I think we’re also looking for a clear and demonstrable commitments on the part of North Koreans to fulfil their commitments are they made on the denuclearisation in 2005,” he said.
The ailing North Korean leader Kim Jon-il’s third son, Kim Jong-un, was promoted to senior military and ruling party posts last week.
“The North Korean nuclear threat has, in reality, been accelerating and has now reached an extremely dangerous level,” deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-hyo said.
Heightening the dangers, he said, was the succession:
“Kim is young and lacks experience, so there is a chance that he might develop an appetite for yet another risk or be tempted to engage in provocation to prove himself to the outside world,” the presidential adviser said.
On Tuesday this week, Kim Jong-un was reported to be viewing military exercises with his father, and on Thursday was reported to have attended a concert to mark the 65th anniversary of the Workers Party’s founding on Sunday.
North Korea has active nuclear and missile programmes and conducted underground atomic tests in 2006 and 2009.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
