US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice answers questions at a press conference in Seoul, July 13. Rice has welcomed Seoul's ambitious offer of energy aid for North Korea. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    SEOUL, July 13 (Xinhuanet) -- US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday gave positive responses to South Korea's energy proposal as Seoul had expected.

    The South Korean government disclosed the content of the so-called "important proposal" outlined months ago as an effort to reactivate the stalled six-party talks late Tuesday afternoon, almost when Rice's plane landed at the Seoul Airport.

    The proposal first came to the spotlight in late May, when the South Korean delegation to an inter-Korean vice ministerial talks showed it to its counterpart of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

    However, Seoul had been keep its mouth closed on the content of the proposal, only saying it was very attractive to the DPRK.

    In mid-June, DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Il also said he would "carefully take consideration" of the proposal after South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young explained the proposal to him in their meeting in Pyongyang.

    Also in that meeting, Kim told Chung that if the United States showed respect to the DPRK, "Pyongyang is willing to return to thesix-party talks even in July."

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) shakes hands with her South Korean counterpart Ban Ki-moon at a press conference in Seoul, July 13. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    The South Korean National Security Council, which is under the direct lead of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, decided to make the content of the proposal public as the DPRK already agreed to rejoin the six-party talks in the last week of July.

    Seoul offered to provide electricity aid directly and independently to the DPRK by constructing cross-border power supply line, if the latter dismantles its nuclear weapon program, according to the proposal.

    The South Korean government is still anxious about what kind ofreactions other concerning parties of the six-party talks will make, and whether the energy plan will gain understanding from South Koreans.

    Now, Rice gave Seoul a somewhat positive reaction.

    Praising the energy plan as a "creative" one, Rice said in a joint press conference with her South Korean counterpart Ban Ki-moon, "The proposal provides opportunity to North Korea (DPRK) to address its energy need."

    It is not the first time Rice has heard the content of the proposal. When Chung Dong-young, who also serves as chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Security Council, visited Washington two weeks ago, Rice was briefed on the plan.

    Rice also said Seoul's proposal can simultaneously help addressthe DPRK's energy needs and the proliferation concerns over nuclear energy in the DPRK.

    "The issue is how the DPRK's energy needs will be met," particularly in the face of significant proliferation concerns about DPRK's nuclear energy. "That is what is so useful about the South Korean proposal," Rice said.

    On Tuesday evening, Rice also told Ban in a dinner meeting thatthe proposal could entail beneficial influence in solving the nuclear issue, but said it needs more detailed discussion among Seoul, Washington and Tokyo when they have trilateral consultations in Seoul on Thursday.

    According to Chung, during his visit to the United States, the two countries agreed to combine the proposal the United States presented in the third round of six-way talks and Seoul's important proposal when the new round of the multilateral talks reopen.

    In Wednesday's news conference, Rice also said Seoul's energy plan is very similar to what the United States raised in the thirdround of six-party talks.

    Seoul's energy plan still needs support from other parties of the six-party talks, as the plan outlines in the first stage, South Korea, the United States, China, Russia and Japan ship free heavy fuel oil to the DPRK to meet the latter's energy needs untilthe cross border power line is completely built.

    Rice's attitude brightened the outlook of the proposal and may help it win common understanding from South Korean society, said local analysts.

    However, both the energy plan and the US proposal call on the DPRK to first make clear it will dismantle its nuclear weapon program.

    Rice said Pyongyang's decision to return to the six-party talks is "a very good step," but is "the first step." She urged the DPRKto "make a strategic decision to scrap its nuclear program." Enditem