U.S.
would show flexibility in nuclear talks with North Korea: envoy
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[July 27, 2015]
SEOUL (Reuters) - The recent nuclear
deal with Iran showed that the United States can be flexible with a
willing counterpart, including North Korea if it decides it wants talks
on its nuclear program, a U.S. envoy said on Monday.
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North Korea has said it was not interested in an Iran-like
dialogue with the United States to give up its nuclear capabilities,
which it said were an "essential deterrence" against hostile U.S.
policy.
Despite that, Sydney Seiler, U.S. special envoy for now-defunct
six-party talks on ending the North's nuclear program, said the
United states left the door open to talks with the North when it is
willing to end its diplomatic isolation.
"The Iran deal demonstrates the value and possibilities that
negotiation bring," Seiler told reporters in the South Korean
capital, Seoul.
"It demonstrates again our willingness, when we have a willing
counterpart, and it demonstrates our flexibility when the DPRK makes
a decision that it wants to take a different path," he said,
referring to North Korea by the initials of its formal name, the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Jul/27/images/ads/current/business_directory_filler.png) Seiler is on a trip to the region that will include stops in China
and Japan, is the latest in a series of visits by U.S. nuclear
envoys aimed at trying to jump start the North Korean talks which
broke down in 2008.
North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests, the last in February
2013, and now calls itself a nuclear weapons state.
The United States and five world powers struck a historic deal with
Iran this month that will limit Iran's nuclear capabilities in
exchange for lifting U.S., EU and UN sanctions that have crippled
its economy.
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North Korea is also heavily sanctioned by the United States,
European Union and the United Nations for procuring equipment
related to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
News reports said the North has recently upgraded a missile platform
and may be readying to launch a long-range missile around the time
of a national anniversary in October.
(Reporting by James Pearson; Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by Robert
Birsel)
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