WRAP SKorean FM arrives for talks, meets Rice, comment
(14 Feb 2005) SHOTLIST 1. South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon walking out of building after meeting with US Secretary of State, Condolezza Rice 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, South Korean Foreign Minister "Returning to the North Korea nuclear issue, Secretary Rice and I reconfirmed the principles and importance of resolving this issue within the six- party framework in a peaceful and diplomatic way. We assessed the motivations of North Korea's recent announcement and their statement that they had manufactured nuclear weapons. We agreed to assess the current situations very carefully and also agreed to intensify our diplomatic efforts among the parties concerned, among the countries participating in the six-party process. We urged North Korea, that North Korea should return to the six-party forum without any pre-conditions and we also urged North Koreans to make strategic decisions, realising that (there is) a much better future if they abandon (their) nuclear development programme and participate as a responsible member of the international community. We will work very closely together in this regard and continue our diplomatic efforts to realise the early resumption of six-party talks." 3. Wide shot of South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon during press conference 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, South Korean Foreign Minister "We have gone through a very important history and a transformation in our bi-lateral alliance relationship. We have resolved to our mutual satisfaction several important issues such as the re-location of U.S forces in Korea including the Yongsan Garriuson and we also agreed to a new partial reduction of American forces - a win-win solution - in a way to enhance the combined defence capabilities so that these forces could maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula." 5. Ban Ki-moon walking to car 6. Ban Ki-moon leaving in car STORYLINE South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said on Monday that the United States and South Korea must intensify diplomatic efforts with North Korea to convince the country to resume six-nation talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programme. "We agreed to assess the current situations very carefully and also agreed to intensify our diplomatic efforts among the parties concerned, among the countries participating in the six-party process," said Ban Ki-moon, after arriving in Washington on Monday and meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. North Korea announced on Thursday that it has built nuclear weapons to defend itself from the alleged threat of a US invasion, and said it would not participate in international disarmament talks. The claim dramatically raised tensions in the two-year standoff over the North's nuclear ambitions. Washington denies that it intends to attack and insists that the communist nation return to the talks involving the two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan. The United States has also urged Beijing - Pyongyang's last major ally and a key supplier of food and energy to the impoverished country - to use its influence over North Korea. Ban Ki-moon also said that the US and South Korea also agreed to the re-location of U.S forces in Korea, including the Yongsan Garriuson and a new, partial reduction of American forces on the Korean Peninsula. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
