Pyongyang earlier this year also proposed talks to reach a formal peace treaty to replace a ceasefire that ended the 1950- 1953 Korean War and left the two sides technically at war with each other, but the South Korean government has repeated its stance that Pyongyang's unconditional return to the suspended talks takes priority.
"North Korea should come back to the negotiations table. And more importantly, the goal of the talks is progress in its denuclearization process, not the resumption of the talks per se. But somehow the center of attention is now focused on whether the North would show up at the negotiations table or not," Yu said. The minister also said he values China's diplomatic efforts as the host to the talks.
"China is making diplomatic efforts for an early resumption of the six-party talks as the host country, and is playing a significant role as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council in adopting and carrying out a resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea after its two nuclear experiments," the minister said.
