Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.

South Korea Urges North Korea to Return to Nuclear Talks
--------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=11E7B7B:3919ACA Six-party talks on
North Korea's nuclear program have been stalled since last November



" hspace=2
src="/english/images/ap_korea_South_Lee_Jong_seok_Kwon_Ho_Ung_22apr06_eng_195.jpg"
width=210 vspace=2 border=0>

South Korean Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok, third from left,
shakes hands with his North Korean counterpart Kwon Ho Ung during
Inter-Korean Cabinet-level talks in PyongyangSouth Korea's Unification
Minister, Lee Jong-seok, is urging Pyongyang to resume stalled
negotiations on its nuclear program.

South Korean news reports say Lee made the request at the opening
session of a new round of inter-Korean talks, which began Friday in
Pyongyang. Details on North Korea's reaction to the proposal were not
available.

Six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program have been stalled
since last November. Pyongyang says it will not return to the talks
until the United States lifts financial sanctions imposed over
allegations North Korea counterfeits U.S. currency.



Washington has rejected the demand.

Reports say that during the inter-Korean talks, Lee also urged
Pyongyang to address the issue of South Korean civilians and prisoners
of war that Seoul says are being held against their will in the North.
Pyongyang denies the allegations.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

 


.