SEOUL - South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon expressed regret on Tuesday at recurring US criticism of North Korea, saying the comments are unhelful in the current reconciliatory mood.
| Stockholm syndrome is getting worse. |
Seoul is seeking to build on optimism sparked by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Ilâs remarks last week -- that his communist state might return to six-party talks on its nuclear weapons programme as early as July if the United States âacknowledges and respectsâ it as a dialogue partner.
At a seminar hosted by the Hudson Institute on Monday, US Undersecretary for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky repeated Washingtonâs definition of North Korea as an outpost of tyranny alongside Myanmar, Zimbabwe and Cuba, according to reports here. âIt is not helpful for the current reconciliatory mood that a senior US official called North Korea an outpost of tyranny,â Ban was quoted as telling Yonhap news agency. âI find it regrettable.â
| "Mr. Ban, this is our new UN ambassador, Mr. Bolton ..." |
An unidentified senior official at the presidential Blue House also said such remarks, although made in an unofficial setting, were unhelpful. âUndersecretary Dobriansky reportedly called the North an outpost of tyranny. We think this kind of remarks though true will not help international efforts to have the six-party talks resumed since our crazy cousins to the north are mighty petulant,â he said.
A high-level North Korean delegation arrived in Seoul Tuesday for four days of inter-Korean talks, during which Seoul hopes Pyongyang will set a date for its return to the talks involving the two Koreas, host China, the United States, Japan and Russia. They aim to persuade North Korea to end its nuclear weapons drive in return for security guarantees and economic benefits. North Korea has cited hostile US policy as its reason for refusing to return to the discussions.
| And we're going to keep being hostile. |
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