South Korea pushes to restart nuclear talks with North

[Coventina]

Source: Reuters

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea called on Monday for a new push to restart dialogue with North Korea on ending its nuclear arms program as Washington seeks to increase pressure on Pyongyang with punishment for its atomic and missile tests.

North Korea, which tested a nuclear device in May, has quit six-party talks that promised it massive aid and diplomatic rewards and said it will expand its nuclear arsenal as defense against a "hostile" United States.

The on-again-off-again talks involved the two Koreas, host China, Japan, Russia and the United States.

South Korea's top nuclear envoy said Seoul and Washington were on the same page on enforcing U.N. Security Council resolutions designed to cut off the North's lucrative arms trade but more needed to be done to bring Pyongyang back to dialogue.

"(As) you put it yesterday on the form of two-track approach, we have to think about resumption of dialogue as well," South Korea's Wi Sung-lac told U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, who is visiting Seoul.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE56J0UA20090720

[timeforpeace]

1. Kim's got this game so figured out.