US ambassador reveals goals on upcoming US-DPRK talks
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U.S. ambassador to South Korea on Thursday revealed goals her country is expecting to meet during an upcoming bilateral dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang, noting that it is aimed to secure the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s reaffirmation of a 2005 six-party agreement.
While addressing a forum here, Kathleen Stephens said the dialogue will "take place in the context of the six-party talks with the purpose of facilitating early resumption of the six-party talks," according to the country's Yonhap News Agency.
U.S. nuclear envoy Stephen Bosworth is expected to travel to Pyongyang on Dec. 8 to discuss the DPRK's return to the stalled international nuclear disarmament talks, which also involves China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.
The bilateral talks will focus on securing DPRK's reaffirmation of the Joint Statement of Sept. 19 2005, which was reached during the fourth round of the six-party, the U.S. top diplomat said.
Washington is willing to fulfill the Joint Statement, and seek the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner, she added, noting that the United States believed that the six-party talks are the best way to achieve the goal.
Stephens appreciated the "close cooperation" between Washington and Seoul in this regard, saying that her country will continue cooperation with other countries involved in the six-party talks in the future.
The Joint Statement calls for the DPRK to abandon its nuclear program in return for economic aid, diplomatic recognition and establishment of a permanent peace regime to replace the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.
Meanwhile, Stephens also said the issue of U.S. troops in South Korea will not be among the topics of the bilateral talks with Pyongyang.
"We've always been clear that when we talk about the peace regime, or peace treaty, peace agreement, the issue of the U.S.-ROK (South Korea) alliance is not on the table," she said, noting "that is a lasting commitment we have, and that is not on the table."
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