SEOUL, April 7 A former president of South Korea is calling for a summit this year to iron out a final peace treaty for the Korean Peninsula.
Kim Dae-jung said Friday during a lecture at Chonbuk National University in Chonju that the negotiations should involve both North and South Korea, China and the United States, The Korea Times reported Saturday.
"The long and unsolved problem of North Korea's nuclear issue is likely to be settled this year," the Nobel Peace Prize laureate said. "The second inter-Korean summit will be held this year and push the mood of reconciliation on the peninsula." Technically, the two Koreas have remained at war despite the armistice agreement that brought an end to the shooting in 1953 after three years of fighting.
Kim suggested several conditions North Korea should meet before a treaty could be realized, including the closure of its nuclear facilities. He also called on the United States to remove North Korea from its list of terrorism-supporting nations.
Meanwhile, South Korean diplomat Moon Chung-in said New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was expected to deliver a verbal message to North Korea leaders Monday indicating President George Bush's "intentions for better relations" with Pyongyang.
Copyright 2007 by UPI
