U.S. Envoy Hopes For Early Talks on North Korea

The U.S. envoy for policy on North Korea said on Tuesday he hoped serious negotiations over Pyongyang’s nuclear programme could start in the near future.

Relations between the rival Koreas plummeted to a new low in 2010 after the sinking of a South Korean ship, killing 46 sailors, a deadly exchange of artillery fire, nuclear revelations and threats of war that sent tremors worldwide.

“We believe that serious negotiations must be at the heart of any strategy for dealing with North Korea and we look forward to being able to launch those at a reasonably early time,” Stephen Bosworth said upon arrival in South Korea.

Bosworth will meet with South Korean foreign ministry officials on Wednesday before heading to China and Japan for further consultations on North Korean issues.

The U.S. envoy for nuclear talks with North Korea, Sung Kim, is travelling with Bosworth to Seoul and Beijing.

Although rhetorical sparring has continued, in recent days Seoul and Pyongyang have suggested they could have diplomatic talks. Analysts say chances of a breakthrough are slim. Beijing has called for a return to six-party talks including the two Koreas, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Seoul and Washington have said that before they head back to the negotiating table they want to see proof of Pyongyang’s seriousness to eventually disarm — something many analysts doubt it will ever do.

North Korea appears to want to return to the talks, where it has won substantial aid in the past after ratcheting up tensions.

The six-way process has been stalled for more than two years after Pyongyang walked out.