DPRK urged to drop unclear program

Watch Video

Play Video

South Korea says that any dialogue with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea should be based on ridding the peninsula of nuclear weapons.

Seoul's Unification Minister has shown optimism that there could be a direct meeting between the United States and the DPRK. But he also told Pyongyang not to think of winning economic aid or normalizing relations with the US while holding on to nuclear weapons or sidelining South Korea. Hyun In-Taek stressed the DPRK's denuclearization was the final goal of his government. He said the six-party talks were the proper, basic means to push for it.

South Korean Unification Minister Hyun In-taek delivers a speech  during a security forum in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009. South Korea said Wednesday any dialogue with North Korea  should be firmly based on the goal of ridding the communist regime  of nuclear weapons, as the United States considers Pyongyang's  long-held desire for direct talks.(AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)

Hyun In-Taek, Unification Minister, said, "Our government hopes for North Korea to normalize relations with the United States and Japan, and pursue economic cooperation. North Korea needs those things. However, the North cannot achieve them by detouring inter-Korean relations or without denuclearization."