The Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday called upon the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to return to the six-party talks "right away and without any preconditions."
The statement came as ROK President Lee Myung-bak was addressing the general debate of the UN General Assembly, a week- long event that opened in New York on Wednesday morning.
"We urge the DPRK to. return to the six-party talks right away and without any preconditions," the president said.
The DPRK withdrew from the six-party talks and vowed it would never return to the talks. The six-party mechanism involves the DPRK, the ROK, the United States, Russia, Japan and China in talks on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
"The Joint Declaration on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula of 1992 to which both Koreas committed themselves must be observed," Lee said. "On such a basis, the Republic of Korea will increase dialogue and exchange with the DPRK, and strengthen co-operation with the international community for the development of the DPRK."