WORLD / Asia-Pacific
N.Korea: Progress at nuclear talks dependent on US
(AP)
Updated: 2006-11-17 09:50
SEOUL, South Korea -- A North Korean diplomat said Friday that progress
at a new round of nuclear talks depends on the attitude of the United
States, a signal that North Korea is unlikely to make any opening
concessions.
Progress can be made in nuclear disarmament talks "if the United States
has a sincere attitude and has willingness to improve its relations" with
the North, Kim Myong-gil, deputy chief of North Korea's mission to the
United Nations in New York, told The Associated Press by telephone.
North Korea agreed to return to the talks last month after a meeting with
the US in China in which Washington agreed to discuss its campaign to
sever the North's access to the international financial system over the
country's alleged illegal activity including counterfeiting and money
laundering.
Kim said if the US keeps the promise it made to North Korea during the
Beijing meeting, it would be "a good start" for the talks.
The North has said it is returning to six-nation talks to resolve the
financial restrictions. However, the US has said only that it agreed to
hold talks on the sidelines of the nuclear negotiations about the
financial issue, but hasn't made any promise to ease the restrictions.
No date has been set for the resumed arms negotiations, but officials
have said they are expected to take place before the end of the year.
North Korea agreed at talks in September 2005 to abandon its nuclear
program in exchange for security guarantees and aid, but follow-up
discussions in November 2005 failed to make any progress on implementing
the deal. The six-party platform -- involving the two Koreas, the US
Japan, Russia and China -- has been stalled since then due to the North's
boycott over financial restrictions.
Meanwhile, Kim also condemned South Korea's decision to vote in favor of
a nonbinding UN General Assembly resolution criticizing the North for
human rights abuses.
He said the move "would not have a positive influence" on inter-Korean
relations, and denounced the vote as interference in the North's internal
affairs.
Top World News
� Bush warns N. Korea on nuclear transfers
� Agreement reached on Darfur peacekeepers
� Soldier gets 90 years in Iraq rape case
� Iran says to "resist to the end" on nuke issue
� Most hostages in Iraqi mass kidnap said freed
Today's Top News
� Sino-Viet Nam economic partnership gets a fillip
� Foreign banks plan local incorporation
� China, Japan to jointly study history
� Luck of the draw for resigning pilots
� APEC ministers start talks on trade
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Learn Mandarin online, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment