Seoul, Washington envoys discuss ways to resume 6-party talks

South Korean and United States envoys on North Korea held talks Wednesday to discuss ways to resume multilateral talks aimed at denuclearizing the communist country. Glyn Davies, the U.S. envoy on North Korean affairs, flew to Seoul late Tuesday to meet with Cho Tae-yong, South Korea's top negotiator on North Korean nuclear issues, as well as other ranking South Korean officials. Cho and Davies were expected to continue their discussions on how to resume the six-party disarmament talks, aimed at denuclearizing North Korea, especially in light of recent changes in North Korea. The North executed leader Kim Jong-un's once-powerful uncle Jang Song-thaek last month, and it has been engaging in a series of charm offensives toward South Korea, offering family reunions and asking to halt cross-border slander. As part of its recent gestures of rapprochement, the North has also expressed its wish to resume the six-party talks, involving the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan, which were last held in 2008. Seoul and Washington, however, have been reluctant to resume the long-stalled forum, saying the North should first demonstrate its seriousness about giving up its nuclear programs before the aid-for-disarmament talks begin. The shock execution of Jang, who was accused of treason, was also widely believed by the outside world as an indication of political instability in North Korea, with young leader Kim at the helm. Davies is also expected to brief Cho on the result of his trip to Beijing, the first leg of his three-nation Northeast Asia trip. Seoul and Washington have been reportedly pressing China, the major sponsor of North Korea, to induce the North to accommodate conditions set forth by South Korea and the U.S. for resuming the six-party talks. Davies' visit is part of back-to-back Asia trips by ranking U.S. foreign affairs officials of late. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns flew to Seoul last Monday to discuss the denuclearization issue, and his visit was followed by a trip Sunday by assistant secretary of state on Asian affairs, Daniel Russel. Davies is scheduled to depart for Japan on Thursday before wrapping up his Asia trip.