Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing prepare for talks

South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan is expected to discuss regional coordination for resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis during a meeting with his Japanese and Chinese counterparts in Beijing today.

Yu is to meet separately with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi tomorrow and hold another separate session with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on Sept. 30 before heading back to Seoul.

Whether the much criticized "one shot" overture offered by President Lee Myung-bak last week would be discussed remains to be seen as Washington has failed to recognize the feasibility of the idea.



The United States seemed to be nonplussed on Lee`s idea aimed at ending North Korea`s nuclear weapons programs in a single blow by offering them expansive economic aid and incentives once Pyongyang takes "irrevocable" measures to denuclearize.

Seoul`s Foreign Ministry refuted that the plans had already been coordinated in a previous summit with President Barack Obama in June.

Officials also said the "one shot, grand bargain" was in line with the "comprehensive package" of incentives Washington indicated it was ready to offer the North, also in return for denuclearization.

"It is just that the two allies have yet to decide what will specifically be included in such incentives," said one high-ranking government official.

The upcoming summit between the leaders of South Korea, Japan and China also will be on the agenda for the three foreign ministers.

President Lee is set to meet Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Oct. 10.

Diplomatic sources predicted that steps for closer regional coordination to attain common goals such as North Korea`s denuclearization and economic stability would be discussed among the three leaders.

This year marks the 10th anniversary for trilateral summits between the top Asian nations, and also is the first for Prime Minister Hatoyama who was recently inaugurated after the Democratic Party of Japan came to power after more than a half century of nearly-unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party.

Hatoyama raised hopes for a more unified Asia with his recent overture to create an East Asia community styled after the European Union.

(jemmie@heraldm.com)



By Kim Ji-hyun