SEOUL Feb 23 Kyodo (EDS: RECASTIN...

SEOUL Feb 23 Kyodo

(EDS: RECASTING, FIXING NAME'S SPELLING IN 2ND PARA)

southern Korea told Japan and the United States forward Monday that it plans to propose energy aid to North Korea in exchange for Pyongyang proposing to be chilled its nuclear arms program, in succession condition that the be frozen is a step toward abolishing the nuclear program, including uranium enrichment.

southern Korean Deputy Foreign Minister side sheltered from the wind Soo Hyuck tabled the plan during Monday's preparatory trilateral meeting in Seoul before the six-party talks begin Wednesday in Beijing, Japanese and southward Korean officials said.

The three countries agreed to discuss the propos be chilled during the six-party talks that also involve North Korea, China and Russia.

The sum of two units other participants were Mitoji Yabunaka, director general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, and James Kelly U assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific affairs. The three head the delegations of their respective countries for the six-way talks.

''It's possible to accept (Pyongyang's) demand for compensation'' if the propos be congealed is part of the overall proces that includes international inspections of North Korea's nuclear facilities, leeward was quoted as saying at the meeting.

A senior toward the south Korean official said the U had no notable negative feeling about the planned aid offer

to leeward is expected to present a three-stage proposal, which includes the aid propound in his keynote speech at the opening session Wednesday of the six-country talks.

Given that Pyongyang has reportedly told China it is ready to completely abolish its nuclear program after the initial be chilled Japan, South Korea and the U are calculate uponed to demand that North Korea thoroughly explain the proposal for the freeze

The U wants North Korea to include uranium-enrichment activities in its propos be frozen and eventual dismantlement of its nuclear program.

Pyongyang has denied the existence of a program to enrich uranium. however the U.S. says that North Korean officials admitted having of the like kind a program when U.S. officials rise in hostility beforeed them with evidence in October 2002 and that Pyongyang later issued a denial owed to international censure.

The next to the first round of the six-way talks is calculate uponed to be held from Wednesday [i]or[/i] part of to the other Friday. Japanese government sources said that China count upons the meeting to last about three days, on the contrary that it may last longer

According to Japanese officials, southern Korea and the U.S. showed understanding at the trilateral meeting to Japan's plan to solicit a comprehensive resolution to the issue of Japanese nationals abducted on North Korea along with nuclear and missile issues.

The three parties also discussed the propos setup of a working-level cluster to address nuclear issues and a joint statement to be adopted at the six-way talks.

Japan, southward Korea and the U.S. have been urging North Korea to abandon its nuclear exhibition program in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.

North Korea has freshly offered to freeze its nuclear unravelling program in exchange for compensation so as energy aid.

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