S. Korea urges Asia to support new proposal to pressure North

South Korea and Washington have been consulting on a new package of incentives to end the 15-year-old nuclear standoff after Seoul has said past efforts to disarm the reclusive state had been slow and were now defunct.

Lee's suggested approach, based on his conservative ruling party's long-standing demand for reciprocity in Seoul's dealings with Pyongyang, is to offer economic assistance to the impoverished North once it gives up its nuclear ambitions.

“President Lee plans to explain about the 'grand bargain' proposal and reiterate the cause for North Korea to give up its nuclear programs and return to the six-party dialogue,” the South Korean government statement said.

“Lee plans to say the 'grand bargain' deal is a comprehensive package that covers a complete and irreversible shutdown of the North's nuclear programs and incentives on security and economic aid,” it added.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has called for direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang, but the United States has viewed the request with caution.

Obama administration officials have insisted that any bilateral contacts with North Korea result in the rapid resumption of the stalled six-country nuclear negotiations.

The six-party talks involve the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States but have been stalled since North Korea said six months ago it was quitting them.

Pyongyang added to tension by conducting its second nuclear test in May.

Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, the top U.S. diplomat for Asia, said last week that North Korea must show a commitment to the six-party framework and abide by pledges made in 2005 and 2007 to give up its nuclear weapons programs in exchange for economic aid and an end to diplomatic isolation.

North Korea has long said it would drop its nuclear program if the United States ended what Pyongyang says is a hostile policy. Washington has said it had no intention to attack the North.

At closed-door meetings of Asia-Pacific leaders in the Thai seaside resort town of Hua Hin, Lee discussed his “grand bargain” of incentives for North Korea in exchange for lasting steps to end its nuclear arms program.

Pyongyang has rejected Seoul's proposal as “ridiculous.”

South Korea's Yonhap also quoted Lee as saying on Sunday: “North Korea's intention is not clear and there's no sign that it has made a decision to give up nuclear (programs).

“The international community must closely cooperate to help North Korea give up its nuclear ambition and return to the six-party talks soon.”

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