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S. Korea Open to Summit With North

S. Korea Open to Summit With North
S. Korea Open to Summit With North

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said on Friday she would be willing to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, but only if there was a “breakthrough” on Pyongyang’s nuclear program.

In written answers to questions submitted by foreign news agencies, Park also warned Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe against dragging his feet over a settlement for Korean women forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War II, AFP reported.

On the question of a face-to-face meeting with Kim Jong-Un, Park reiterated that the door to a summit remained open, albeit guarded by numerous conditions.

“There is no reason not to hold an inter-Korean summit if a breakthrough comes in solving the North Korean nuclear issue and progress is made in improving the South-North relationship,” Park said. “But it will be possible only when the North comes forward for a proactive and sincere dialogue,” she added.

Both Seoul and Washington have said any meaningful dialogue with Pyongyang would require North Korea to make some tangible step towards denuclearization–a precondition the North has repeatedly rejected.

Following an escalation in cross-border military tensions, the two Koreas reached an agreement in August that included a commitment to resume high-level talks. However, no dialogue has been held so far and most experts believe the chances of a summit are close to non-existent.

The two Koreas have held two summits in the past, one in 2000 and the second in 2007.

 

Financialtribune.com