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Talks at UCSD Between Officials from North Korea,
U.S. and Other Countries Described as ‘Frank but Friendly’
Discussions on nuclear nonproliferation and the global
economic crisis sponsored by UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation
Roxana Popescu | November 2, 2009
Representatives from the U.S. and North Korea met at an unofficial forum sponsored by the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation.
Representatives from North Korea and the United States held talks last week at an unofficial forum sponsored by the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at UC San Diego. The meetings were attended by military and diplomatic officials from four other countries.
Susan Shirk, a professor of political science at UC San Diego and a founder of the Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue, a multilateral “track two” forum with foreign ministry officials, defense ministry officials and academics, said at a press conference on campus Tuesday that while there were no “major breakthroughs,” the talks allowed for “a very free and candid exchange of personal perspectives.”
Present at the talks were Ri Gun, North Korea's the deputy chief envoy for nuclear negotiations, and chief U.S. nuclear negotiator Sung Kim. Every country except North Korea sent defense officials in addition to diplomatic ones and academics. Shirk told reporters she traveled to Pyongyang to invite North Korea to send defense officials but that her request was declined.
Present at the talks were Ri Gun, North Korea's the deputy chief envoy for nuclear negotiations, and chief U.S. nuclear negotiator Sung Kim. Officials from China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea also attended.
The talks came at a time when North Korea is seen as possibly revising its refusal to engage in bilateral talks with the U.S., after carrying out nuclear tests earlier this year. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has said his country could rejoin international disarmament talks if it can first make progress with the United States.
In a reversal of its previous policy, last month the Obama administration has said it is willing to engage in direct dialogues with North Korea, as long as those discussions lead to the six-party talks that would halt the country's nuclear program.
Shirk said the “frank but friendly” discussions, attended by officials from China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, North Korea and the United States, were not a preparation for any bilateral or multiparty talks and the timing was related to an apparent shift in the political climate.
“It is in no way a preparation for official talks,” Shirk said. “This meeting happened to occur now at a time when there’s a lot of tension about resuming dialogue at the official level. But it’s just a coincidence that it occurs now.”
Shirk said the “frank but friendly” discussions allowed for ideas to be exchanged and for greater understanding among those nations, rather for than any concrete plans for denuclearization or multi-party talks.
She added she does not know “when or if official talks will resume.”
The meetings focused on topics including nuclear nonproliferation and the global economic crisis and sought to increase understanding and communication among participants.
“It’s a very gradual process of explaining to one another why we’re doing what we’re doing and gradually building up mutual trust and understanding,” Shirk said.
Prior to meeting in San Diego, officials from North Korea and the United States met unofficially in New York to discuss disarmament. North Korea and the United States do not have diplomatic relations.
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