S. Korea: Prospects for talks 'not smooth'

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
South Korea's president said Monday that North Korea's return to international talks on its nuclear program doesn't mean an end is near to the tense standoff with Pyonyang. "The prospects for the talks may not always be smooth. It will require diverse procedures and take a long time before the nuclear issue is completely resolved," Roh Moo-hyun said in a National Assembly speech read by Prime Minister Han Myung-sook. North Korea agreed last week to end its yearlong boycott of negotiations with China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States - relaxing tensions following Pyongyang's first-ever nuclear test. No date has been set for the resumption of talks.