Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs DPRK – Six Party Talks

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern TD. , warmly welcomed news of the agreement by North Korea at the Six Party Talks in Beijing last night to take the steps towards nuclear disarmament.  The Minister said:

“I greatly welcome the agreement reached in Beijing yesterday at the Six Party Talks.  This is a significant first step towards a return to a nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula and towards normalising relations in the region.  All sides have shown flexibility and patience in the negotiations. It is important that all elements of the agreement are now fully implemented .

I hope that all sides can maintain the same commitment to the peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues in future talks.”

The Minister recognised the important role that China, as hosts and Chair of the talks had played, as well as the significant work by US and North Korean officials in recent months.  The Minister hoped that future rounds would be able to resolve other issues, such as the  situation of Japanese citizens kidnapped by the North Koreans in the 1970s and 1980s

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