By Xinhua,
Seoul : South Korean Foreign Ministry on Wednesday vows to make efforts for substantial progress in nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula in 2009 while strengthening strategic alliance with Washington.
“We will set up a joint strategy with the new U.S. government to make substantial progress in the six-party talks within the year 2009,” said the ministry while briefing South Korean President Lee Myung-bak’s new year policy goal for next year.
“We will concentrate diplomatic efforts on completing the verification and negotiations on the second phase as early as possible and start full-scale talks on the third phase within the new year,” the ministry said.
The country will also push forward free trade agreement process with Australia, Peru, New Zealand, Turkey and Colombia, as well as India and the European Union, it added.