S.Korea: No decision on halting energy aid to N.Korea

That stance contradicts Washington's statement saying North Korea's five negotiating partners - China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the United States - agreed to halt energy aid to Pyongyang unless the regime agrees to steps for verifying its past nuclear activities.

"We will continue to study the issue while monitoring various situations," Seoul's Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young told reporters.

He said the South plans to organize a meeting of the six nations to discuss the energy aid matter "at an appropriate time," but did not say exactly when the meeting will be held.

Moon also said both Russia and China plan to complete their shares of energy aid to the North.

The impoverished nation was promised the equivalent of 1 million tons of fuel oil as part of a 2007 disarmament-for-aid deal. About 60 percent of the aid has been sent.

On Friday, U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said there is an understanding among Pyongyang's five partners in the pact that "future fuel shipments aren't going to move forward" unless North Korea accepts a protocol to check its nuclear programs.

Moon declined to comment on the U.S. statement.

Four days of talks in Beijing last week ended in a stalemate due to Pyongyang's refusal to make written commitments on inspections of its nuclear programs.

On Saturday, North Korea's chief nuclear negotiator, Kim Kye Gwan, warned that Pyongyang will slow down work on dismantling its nuclear program if energy aid by Washington and others is delayed.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email