Britain urges N.Korea to follow Libya

BEIJING, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- British Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell said his talks with North Korean officials during his four-day visit were "a genuine and a serious dialogue."

Speaking to reporters in Beijing following his trip to Pyongyang, Rammell said he had encouraged the country to follow the example of Libya and renounce its nuclear weapons, which could bring a wide range of practical benefits.

Rammell urged the North Koreans to commit to an early date for reconvening the six party talks on the nuclear issue, saying the only way to resolve outstanding issues was to come back to the table. He said he made it clear that the international community, not just the United States, oppose North Korea having nuclear weapons.

The diplomat said the North Koreans seemed to think it would be advantageous for them to wait until after the U.S. presidential election to resume the talks, a view he tried to discourage.

Rammell said the North Koreans agreed to consider allowing the U.N. special envoy on North Korea to visit the country to look into human rights issues, which he called "a positive step in the right direction."

He added, "I'm not unrealistic. This process is going to take a long time, but it is about trying to drag North Korea back from complete isolation."