South Korean President: Seoul Will Maintain Friendly Relations with North Korea

韩国总统：首尔将同北韩保持友好关系

South Korea's president says his country will maintain friendly relations with North Korea to ensure peace on the Korean peninsula, despite Pyongyang's nuclear test last month.

Speaking in Seoul Thursday, President Roh Moo-hyun stressed the importance of maintaining working relations with the North to secure South Korea's freedom and stability.

Tensions in the region spiked last month when Pyongyang tested a nuclear weapon. Under intense diplomatic pressure, North Korea agreed this week to return to six-nation talks aimed at ending its nuclear program.

The U.S. ambassador to South Korea said Thursday that even if Pyongyang returns to those talks, United Nations members should continue to enforce sanctions against the reclusive government for its nuclear test.

韩国总统说，尽管平壤上个月进行了核试验，但韩国仍将同北韩保持友好关系，确保朝鲜半岛的和平。

卢武铉总统星期四在首尔强调了同北韩保持工作关系以确保韩国自由与稳定的重要性。

平壤上个月进行核武器试验，加剧了地区紧张。在强大的外交压力下，北韩本星期同意重返为结束北韩核项目而进行的六方会谈。

美国驻韩国大使星期四表示，即使平壤重返会谈，联合国成员国仍然应当继续执行由于北韩核试验而对这个封闭的政府所采取的制裁措施。