WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 28th April, 2019) US National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Sunday that the six-party format of talks on North Korea's denuclearization failed, however, the United States continued consultations with its participants, including Russia.
"The six-party approach failed in the past. That does not mean we do not consult, as [US] president [Donald Trump] just did on Friday very closely with Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe of Japan, we consult with the Russians, the Chinese, obviously, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who was just here a few weeks ago. So, it is not like they are excluded [from negotiations]" Bolton said in an interview with Fox news, answering a question on whether it was possible to resume the six-party format talks.
Bolton noted that Trump was still waiting for the opportunity to hold a third summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The situation on the Korean Peninsula improved last year with North and South Korean leaders having held three bilateral summits. Kim has also held two meetings with Trump, with the parties having reached an agreement in June, stipulating that North Korea would make efforts to promote complete denuclearization of the peninsula in exchange for US-South Korean military drills' freeze and a potential removal of US sanctions. However, the second Trump-Kim summit held in February ended with no new agreements.
The six-party talks on North Korea's denuclearization started back in 2003 and involved the United States, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea. The last round of the six-party talks took place in 2007.
