South Africa Government welcomes decision of North Korea to rejoin the six party talks

Pretoria- The South African Government, today, Tuesday 31 October 2006, welcomed the announcement made in Beijing on Tuesday that North Korea agreed to rejoin the Six-Party disarmament talks following discussions between the People's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States.

The South African Government is encouraged by the flexibility shown by the parties involved in finding a way of resuming negotiations. South Africa has always encouraged the parties involved, to intensify efforts that would facilitate the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks, which would contribute to a sustainable resolution of this issue in a peaceful manner through multi-party dialogue.

South Africa believes that long-lasting peace and security is only possible through the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The South African Government calls on all parties to work towards bringing about peace and security in this region.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
Department of foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
31 October 2006.