A nuclear-free Korean Peninsular will be achieved in the foreseeable future, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lee Soo-Hyuck of the Republic of Korea in Beijing Wednesday  

Lee, also head of the ROK delegation, addressed the opening session of the six-party talks, which also involves China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the United States, Russia and Japan.

The consensus reached by all sides in the first round of six-party talks would be discussed as "a program" for resolving the nuclear issue, he said.

Should all sides hold an earnest and tolerant attitude and admit the existing differences can they expand common ground for scoring substantive progress in reaching to the goal of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, he said.

Lee extended particular welcome to his DPRK counterpart Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan for attending the talks and thanked China's preparation for the talks.

"The eyes of the world are now on us," he said, noting that cautious forecast should overweight optimist anticipation.

He admitted there is still a gap for the goal all pursued and the reality they are facing.

However, "all of our words and deeds will be recorded in history," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2004)