All parties believe DPRK must return to six-party talks: U.S. official

BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- All the parties believe fundamentally that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) must return to the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue, a senior U.S. diplomat said in Beijing Wednesday.

Visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell made the remarks at a news briefing.

Within that context, it would be possible to have bilateral interactions, he said.

"We would be prepared for an initial interaction between the United States and the DPRK that would lead rapidly to a six-party resumption of talks," he said.

The primary focus was on what steps could constructively be taken to get the DPRK to come back to the six-party framework, and to work together to reduce threats to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, he said.

Campbell said the six-party framework was essential.

There was a "virtually unprecedented" acceptance of basic goals and ambitions associated with the six-party talks and negotiations with the DPRK, he said.

The United States had been involved in very deep consultations, particularly with Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and China, about how to better coordinate policies concerning the DPRK, he said.

In that respect, he had "rarely seen better coordination" between China and the United States in particular.

During his three-day stay in China, Campbell said he had discussions with the China side on a wide range of regional and international issues.

He said his agenda has been "full and very broad", and he had "intensive consultations" with Chinese officials from several departments including the ministries of foreign affairs, education, defense.

He said he had been trying to "lay some of the groundwork" for U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to China in mid November.

Launched in 2003, the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue involved China, the DPRK, the United States, the ROK, Russia and Japan.

The talks have been stalled since the last round in Beijing last December.