Seoul requests more time for diplomacy

S Korea says only dialogue can ease tension

By Caroline Gluck BBC correspondent in Seoul

South Korea has urged the United Nations nuclear watchdog to postpone an emergency meeting on the North Korean crisis, asking for more time to allow diplomatic efforts to work.

CRISIS CHRONOLOGY

16 Oct: N Korea acknowledges secret nuclear programme, US says

14 Nov: Oil shipments to N Korea halted

22 Dec: N Korea removes monitoring devices at Yongbyon nuclear plant

31 Dec: UN nuclear inspectors forced to leave North Korea

10 Jan: N Korea pulls out of anti-nuclear treaty

11 Jan: Pyongyang suggests it could resume ballistic missile tests

24 Jan: North-South talks end without making progress

Timeline of tensions

The request came after Seoul announced it was sending two envoys to Pyongyang, including a special advisor to the president, for talks on the nuclear stand-off.

Earlier, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it would hold an emergency session on 3 February to decide whether to refer the matter to the UN Security Council.

Washington has been pushing for the issue to be brought before the Council, which would have the option of imposing economic sanctions on North Korea.

But Seoul has asked for patience, saying there is no need to rush holding the emergency meeting as its own and other international diplomatic initiatives were still under way.

A special envoy of South Korea's outgoing President, Kim Dae Jung, and an envoy from President-elect Roh Moo Hyun are preparing to travel to Pyongyang on Monday.

Mediation hint

North Korea had previously insisted it would only discuss the nuclear issue with Washington and would resist moves to internationalise the issue.

But it has now hinted it would welcome mediation by its neighbours.

South Korean officials admit time is running out for the North to defuse international tensions.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr Roh's envoy said Pyongyang had to face up to reality.

He said that if the North continued to threaten peace, the world community would not turn a blind eye.