Park proposes five-nation talks over N. Korea

SEOUL, Jan. 22 (Yonhap)-- President Park Geun-hye proposed Friday that South Korea hold talks with the United States, China and other regional partners to discuss ways to denuclearize North Korea.

"We should find various and creative approaches, including attempting to hold five-way talks excluding North Korea," Park said in a meeting with officials on how to deal with North Korea.

The comments represent growing doubts about the effectiveness of the nuclear talks, which showed no signs of resumption.

North Korea quit the disarmament-for-aid talks in April 2009 and conducted a second nuclear test a month later. But it has since repeatedly expressed its desire to return to the negotiating table without any preconditions.

But South Korea and the U.S. have said that Pyongyang must first show its sincerity toward denuclearization before such talks can resume.

The nuclear talks, which also involve Japan and Russia, were last held in 2008.

Park called on officials to concentrate diplomatic efforts on ensuring that the U.N. Security Council can adopt a resolution for strong and effective sanctions on North Korea over its fourth nuclear test earlier this month.

entropy@yna.co.kr
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