S. Korea, DPRK hold nuclear talks in Bali
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Xinhua, July 22, 2011
The chief nuclear envoys of South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held talks on nuclear issues between the two sides and a possible attempt to resume the six-party talks Friday in Bali, Indonesia, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The talks between South Korea's Wi Sung-lac, nuclear envoy, and DPRK's Ri Yong-ho, vice foreign minister who handles nuclear diplomacy, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum here comes on the heels of international efforts to resume the six-party talks on ending the DPRK's nuclear program.
"The two sides started talks after the North's side accepted our proposal to discuss nuclear issues," a ranking South Korean diplomat told Yonhap.
"It is the first time that the chief nuclear envoys of South and North Korea have held a bilateral meeting on nuclear issues," the diplomat said on the condition of anonymity.
DPRK's Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun, who is in Bali to attend the ASEAN forum, confirmed earlier in the day that Ri was appointed as the DPRK's chief envoy to the six-party talks.
The six-party talks on nuclear issues, involving the DPRK, South Korea, China, the United States, Japan and Russia, have been stalled since late 2008.
