کہنا
KOREAN PENINSULA
Points to Make
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very
Japan/North Korea dialogue, however unproductive so far, important part of the delicate task of bringing North Korea in from
the cold.
We share your priorities: particularly concerned by continued
North Korean failure to adhere to its NPT obligations. A cause of
instability in the region. Glad that you are making this a prerequisite of substantive progress in these talks.
Need to maintain careful pressure on North Korea, stressing essential NPT objective, but not providing North Korea with alibis for dragging their feet. A lower-key approach may be better than (the South Korean preference) banging the table on every occasion.
Our Ambassador to the United Nations will be raising this matter
with the North Koreans (at an appropriate opportunity).
Prospects for next round of Japan/North Korea talks in November? Japanese plans to recognise North Korea following UN entry? We took the opportunity of supporting Korean membership in the Security Council to release ourselves from the anomaly of not having recognised North Korea as a state. But South Korea clearly concerned that countries might now concede too much to North Korea. We have no intention of establishing diplomatic relations.
Presumably you are keeping the South Koreans fully briefed on
your progress? Their reactions?
Prospects for Korean unification? Still a long way to go, and South Koreans appear worried by economic costs. Both sides need to be seen to make concessions. Unlikely to see any real change until
the death of Kim Il Sung.
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