The United States will never be able to resort to military means to end the North Korean nuclear crisis, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said on Thursday. The stand-off over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions pits the world's most stubborn country, North Korea, against the country with the strongest voice in the world, the United States, and therefore a resolution is inherently complicated, Roh said.
"But neither side has the freedom to take the situation to a breakdown," Roh told senior South Korean journalists at the presidential Blue House.
"Under no circumstances can the North choose nuclear weapons, and under no circumstances can the United States choose military means," Roh said.
Foreign media were not invited to the event, but a transcript of the discussions was later provided by the Blue House.
Six-country talks on ending the North's nuclear programmes in return for aid and security guarantees have been on hold for a year because Pyongyang refuses to talk until Washington ditches what the North says is a hostile policy.
The United States has said it harbours no hostile intent, but it generally does not rule out any option to ensure the North does not use or enhance its declared nuclear arsenal. The six-party talks have brought together the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, Russia and China for three rounds.
The key to the nuclear problem lies between the North and the United States, making a summit between the two Koreas unlikely soon, Roh said, when asked whether he would be willing to meet with the North's leader, Kim Jong-il.
"My assessment is it would be difficult for a summit under the circumstances to be successful," Roh said.
Diplomatic hopes were raised after Kim told a South Korean envoy last month Pyongyang could rejoin the talks in July if the United States met certain conditions, such as showing respect.
South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday there were enough favourable conditions to expect the talks to resume in July and called on Pyongyang to announce a firm date.
Ban cited in particular recent contacts by US and North Korean officials, which he said helped them understand each other's position better.
China also encouraged more of such contacts.
"We hope all parties concerned can emit more goodwill and emit more positive information to create favourable conditions for the early resumption of the six-party talks," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao told a news conference.
But such optimism is not shared by Japan and some analysts, who say there is little to support the view.
North Korea is believed to be engaged in the spread of its nuclear capabilities, including the provision of the technology to Iran, according to a recent intelligence report obtained by Reuters in Vienna from a non-US diplomat.
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