N. Korea to agree to 5-way talks if U.S. guarantees Kim's post

Japan Policy & Politics, July 22, 2003

MOSCOW, July 20 Kyodo

North Korea would agree to five-party talks on its nuclear ambitions if the United States gives prior assurance in a verbal statement that Kim Jong Il will not be ousted from power, sources close to Russia-North Korea ties said Sunday.

The revelation comes a day after news that the U.S. earlier told Japan and South Korea it intends to give North Korea a verbal guarantee not to overthrow Kim if the North takes part in the proposed five-nation dialogue involving the four countries and China.

But it remains unlikely that such a multiparty meeting will be held any time soon, as Pyongyang is insisting on a prior indication by Washington on the matter.

North Korea has demanded formal documentation in the likes of a nonaggression treaty with the U.S., but it seems to have softened its stance and taken a step forward in the process of agreeing to include Japan and South Korea in the framework.

The sources said Pyongyang has explained that a verbal statement by U.S. President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney or Secretary of State Colin Powell guaranteeing Kim's leadership post would be necessary for it to accept the five-party talks.

Bush has said it is not his objective to seek a change in North Korea's leadership, but Pyongyang apparently wants a clearer guarantee to give itself firmer ground to stand on in future negotiations with the concerned parties, according to the sources.

As for the makeup of the five-party framework, North Korea has opposed Japan's participation and maintained it wants Russia to take part. The U.S., meanwhile, wants to exclude Russia from the talks and has notified the country that it would not reject its participation but would not invite it either.

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko has said it would make sense for Moscow to become involved in the multilateral talks if the framework were to be expanded, but also noted that Russia would agree to any format that can gain results.

Diplomatic sources said Saturday in Washington that the U.S. informed Japan and South Korea at a senior officials meeting in Washington on July 3 about its idea of verbally assuring the North that it has no intention of invading the country or toppling Kim's government.