Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck of the Republic of Korea (ROK), the chief delegate to the just-ended six-party talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula, said Sunday the talks were "very successful."

 

On arrival in Seoul from Beijing, Lee said the second round nuclear talks ran Wednesday through Saturday in Beijing were "very successful" for the first written document was produced, reported Yonhap News Agency.

 

The second round six-party meeting released a seven-point chairman's statement fixing the goal to realize a nuclear-weapon free Korean Peninsula and setting rough time for the third round of six-party talks.

 

"In particular, the DPRK (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) did not turn down the ROK's proposals. We are proud of our proposals," Lee told reporters at Incheon International Airport.

 

Lee referred to the Seoul's proposal of providing energy compensation for DPRK's nuclear freeze which should quickly be followed by eventually scrap of nuclear program.

 

The first round of six-party talks were held in Beijing in last August, attended by China, the DPRK, the United States, the ROK, Russia and Japan.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 29, 2004)