N. Korea, U.S. restore 'New York channel' of dialogue: diplomatic source

Live-fire Drill off Inter-Korean Border Island

SEOUL,South Korea -- Tensions were high on the western bordering sea of the two Koreas as South Korea held a live-fire drill on Dec. 20 despite warnings of retaliation from North Korea. (Yonhap)

North Korea and the United States have resumed contact through Pyongyang's U.N. mission in New York, a diplomatic source said Wednesday, as the communist nation has expressed its willingness to negotiate after escalating military and nuclear tensions.

The "New York channel" of unofficial dialogue between the two sides has been back in operation after suspension following the North's deadly shelling of the South's Yeonpyeong Island last month, the source said on condition of anonymity.

"I understand that the two sides are having contact as the channel has recently been restored," the source said, adding that the restoration of the dialogue channel can be seen as part of Washington's "two-track" strategy of dealing with the North with both pressure and dialogue.

The move came as North Korea has signaled its willingness to negotiate.

Pyongyang's foreign ministry said last week that it supports all proposals of dialogue to reduce tensions and denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. The North has also said through visiting New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson that it is willing to allow U.N. nuclear monitors back into the country and negotiate the sale of some 12,000 nuclear fuel rods.

South Korean officials dismissed the North's overtures as a negotiating tactic. The U.S. urged the North to demonstrate through action that it is serious about negotiating if the stalled six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programs are to reopen.

"We're not going to get a table and a room and have the six-party talks just for the feel-good notion of having six-party talks," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. "When and if the North Koreans are ever serious about living up to their obligations, then we can think about restarting the six-party talks."

It has been a standard pattern of North Korean behavior to quit negotiations and then raise tensions with provocations before returning to the dialogue table with greater negotiating power and getting concessions for promises that it ultimately backtracks on.

South Korean and U.S. officials have repeatedly vowed not to repeat the vicious cycle, stressing the importance of ensuring Pyongyang's seriousness about giving up its nuclear programs before the nuclear negotiations reopen.

jschang@yna.co.kr

source: english.yonhapnews.co.kr