Int'l efforts to resume after Bosworth's Pyongyang trip: S Korean minister

SEOUL, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's unification minister said Thursday that international efforts related to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear issues will be resumed following a U.S. envoy's visit to Pyongyang.

"Although it is yet to confirm on what may come, I expect cooperative measures on the DPRK's nuclear issue among related nations will pick up speed," Hyun In-taek told a forum in Seoul.

The minister's remarks came in the day when Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special representative for the DPRK, wrapped up his visit to Pyongyang, calling it "very useful."

The trip was reportedly having a purpose of persuading the DPRK back to the six-party nuclear talks and securing DPRK' s reaffirmation of the Joint Statement of Sept. 19 2005.

The DPRK quit the six-party nuclear talks, which involves the United States, China, Japan, and the two Koreas, in April to protest against the UN sanctions imposed on the country for its long-range rocket launch.

"The situation on the Korean Peninsula has become increasingly flexible. The peninsula and inter-Korean relations are now at an important turning point," Hyun said, adding that the recent diplomatic moves, including Bosworth's trip, brought the "turning point" to the peninsula.