'저는 그들의 땅을 지키기 위하여 싸웠던 인디안들의 이야기를 기억합니다. 백인들이 그들의 신성한 숲에 도로를 만들기 위하여 나무들을 잘랐습니다. 매일밤 인디안들이 나가서 백인들이 만든 그 길을 해체하면 그 다음 날 백인들이 와서 도로를 다시 짓곤 했습니다. 한동안 그 것이 반복되었습니다. 그러던 어느날, 숲에서 가장 큰 나무가 백인들이 일할 동안 그들 머리 위로 떨어져 말과 마차들을 파괴하고 그들 중 몇몇을 죽였습니다. 그러자 백인들은 떠났고 결코 다시 오지 않았습니다….' (브루스 개그논)





For any updates on the struggle against the Jeju naval base, please go to savejejunow.org and facebook no naval base on Jeju. The facebook provides latest updates.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Text Fwd: North Korea-U.S. bilateral talks returns to September 19 joint statement as a framework for give and take


* Image source. caption
'Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special representative for North Korea Policy, left,
arrives to meet with officials at South Korea’s Foreign Ministry main office
located in Seoul’s Doryeom neighborhood, Dec. 10.'


Hankyoreh
North Korea-U.S. bilateral talks returns to September 19 joint statement as a framework for give and take Experts say it is now South Korea’s turn to reconsider its North Korea policy
Posted on : Dec.11,2009 12:46 KST

Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, returned from North Korea on Thursday. Although some observers are noting that the first round of high ranking talks between North Korea and the U.S. did not produce a clear conclusion such as North Korea’s announcement to return to the six-party talks, it is possible to say that it signals momentum in the Korean Peninsula denuclearization process that has been derailed for almost one year.

Bosworth said at a press conference on the same day, “The two sides discussed all facts pertaining to the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement of the Fourth Round of the Six-Party Talks.” He also emphasized, “North Korea has agreed that the implementation of that declaration should be continued.” By combining these two remarks of Bosworth, one can conclude that North Korea and the U.S. share a bond of sympathy regarding the basic framework of the September 19 statement.

The September 19, 2005 joint statement stipulates that in exchange for North Korea’s agreement on denuclearization, the other five parties would provide a peace agreement, normalized relations, and economic aid to North Korea. Thus, it seems that the U.S. and North Korea have come to an agreement about holding each other to a framework of give and take.

It is uncertain, however, to observers whether there will be a smooth passage to the denuclearization process. Above all, some are referring to an ‘Order Problem’ regarding how the two sides will combine their demands. While it seems that North Korea wants to return to six-party talks only after receiving a guarantee of a peace agreement through North Korea-U.S. direct negotiations, it appears that the U.S. has put off a peace agreement depending on whether six-party talks resume and a denuclearization program gains momentum.

Nonetheless, it appears that the U.S.-North Korea bilateral talks have had results in that it has forced South Korea to reconsider its policy on the matter. Kim Yeon-chul, head of the Hankyoreh Peace Institute says, “The weak point of the Lee Myung-bak administration’s North Korean policy is that it contains no vision regarding a peace agreement.” He also says, “If the South Korean government maintains its stance that shows indifference on the issue, it could become an obstacle in returning to the six-party talks.”

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

© 2006 The Hankyoreh Media Company.

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