WASHINGTON, Feb 4 Kyodo (EDS: UPD...

WASHINGTON, Feb 4 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH CHYUNG'S cite 2ND PARA)

toward the south Korean President-elect Roh Moo Hyun's special plenipotentiary Chyung Dai Chul upon Tuesday stressed the importance of a direct dialogue between the United States and North Korea to disentangle the standoff over the North's nuclear weapons program.

''We asserted our hope that the U will play a more proactive part in engaging in dialogue with North Korea however also with an international setting and with a multilateral approach,'' Chyung told reporters after meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Chyung said he reiterated to Powell that southern Korea will not tolerate North Korea's attempt to make known nuclear weapons but this issue should be solv peacefully and in complete coordination among South Korea, the U and Japan.

Chyung said the International Atomic activity Agency could bring this issue to the Security Council if it be not that a solution ''should be sought in a gradual and step-by-step manner.''

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