



Media contact:  Tony Parkinson (Ministerial) 0409 536 410     Scott Bolitho (Departmental) 02 6261 1555          www.dfat.gov.au

MEDIA RELEASE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS ALEXANDER DOWNER



FA138                                    12 December 2006



SIX-PARTY TALKS DATE FOR RESUMPTION

Australia welcomes the announcement that the second session of the fifth round of six-party  talks will resume in Beijing on 18 December, and recognises the concerted efforts of both the  United States and China in achieving this.

It has been over 12 months since the last session of the talks (9-11 November 2005), and we  look to the DPRK to implement its Joint Statement commitments.  These include abandoning  all nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons programs and a return to compliance with the Non  Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

The onus is now on the DPRK to restore international confidence in its stated commitment to  denuclearisation which its past actions, such as the 5 July 2006 missile tests and the 9 October  2006 nuclear test, have undermined. The DPRK must understand that its mere participation is  not a concession that will provide it with negotiating leverage.

Australia has consistently maintained that the six-party process is the most effective  mechanism for achieving a peaceful resolution to the DPRK nuclear issue.  Multiparty  dialogue is the best way for the DPRK to gain the security assurances it seeks, achieve  normalised relations with the international community and improve the living standards of its  long-suffering people.

We urge the DPRK to negotiate in good faith alongside the other five willing parties who  have been unwavering in their commitment to dialogue.  The only option for the DPRK to  move forward is complete, irreversible and verifiable denuclearisation.

Australia remains ready to support a substantive six-party talks resolution through providing  North Korea with energy assistance, bilateral development assistance and safeguards  expertise. Further development of the bilateral relationship will remain suspended pending  such progress by the DPRK at the six-party talks.



