SEOUL (AFP) – The new US administration will make North Korea's nuclear disarmament a priority despite other pressing world problems, according to South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator.
"The North Korean nuclear issue may not be as urgent as the Gaza Strip." said Kim Sook.
"But it will be high on the list of priorities in both the short and long term in view of nuclear proliferation and weapons of mass destruction."
Kim, quoted by Yonhap news agency, said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pointed out the urgency of handling the nuclear issue during her congressional confirmation hearing.
Clinton said last week the Obama administration will pursue a "very aggressive effort" against North Korea's alleged weapons proliferation.
"Our goal is to end the North Korean nuclear programme -- both the plutonium reprocessing programme and the highly enriched uranium programme, which there is reason to believe exists, although never quite verified," she added.
Kim said he plans to meet his Japanese counterpart Akitaka Saiki in Seoul next Thursday to discuss future strategy.
Six-nation disarmament talks are stalled by disagreements over how the North's declared nuclear activities should be verified. The talks group the two Koreas, China, Russia, the US and Japan.
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