South Korean ex-president urges NKorea to give up nuclear weapons

Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung on Tuesday urged North Korea to give up its nuclear programs ahead of a trip to the communist state.

Photo: South Korean ex-president urges NKorea to give up nuclear weapons

South Korean ex-president urges NKorea to give up nuclear weapons

Kim made the remark during a speech at an academic conference, calling for a "give-and-take" deal between the North and the U.S. to resolve their nuclear standoff.

"North Korea should give up its nuclear (programs) completely and in return, the United States should guarantee North Korea's security and lift financial sanctions," Kim said.

Kim is scheduled to make a four-day visit to Pyongyang in late June, although specific dates have yet to be decided. The former president won the Nobel Peace Prize for his landmark June 2000 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, the first-and-only meeting between leaders of the divided Koreas.

During next month's trip, Kim is expected to meet again with the North's reclusive leader amid speculation that their one-on-one talks might help lead to a breakthrough in stalled six-country negotiations on the North's nuclear programs.

"I sincerely hope that my North Korean trip in late June will contribute to inter-Korean exchanges and the six-party talks, promoting the peace and cooperation regime on the Korean Peninsula," Kim said.

Kim stressed he is visiting the North in a private capacity, not as a government envoy, but said he would discuss with the North's leader ways of facilitating inter-Korean rapprochement and unifying the divided peninsula, reports the AP.

I.L.