2008 Woodie Awards
North Korea, U.S. talks help ease tensions over nuclear program
By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: World
SINGAPORE - The United States and North Korea said they made good progress in talks yesterday on resolving a deadlock over a disputed inventory of the communist nation's nuclear programs.
"I would say it was a good discussion," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the top U.S. negotiator with North Korea.
Hill said he and North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan had "a full discussion on all issues" and agreed to report back to their respective capitals.
"I think, depending on what we hear back from the capitals by tomorrow, there will be some further announcements very soon," he said.
"If all goes well, I hope we can have some further statements in Beijing tomorrow which would involve some follow-on activities," he told reporters after the one-day talks. Both Hill and Kim were scheduled to leave for China - North Korea's main ally - early today, but on different flights.
Kim was more upbeat, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.
"Differences have been narrowed a lot," Yonhap quoted Kim as telling Korean-speaking reporters. "I would say the talks were successful."
Neither he nor Hill provided any details.
The two sides are trying to break an impasse over North Korea's pledge to provide a full inventory of its nuclear activities and facilities. It says it provided a list in November, but the U.S. says it was incomplete.
The disagreement has stalled six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament.
Hill said ultimately the full list "will need to be submitted to the Chinese and then we'll need to do a six-party meeting."
In Washington, U.S. officials said they expected an imminent announcement from China, perhaps today, that the next six-party talks at the envoy level would take place in Shanghai on April 16.
Before starting yesterday's talks, Hill had made it clear time was running out and the two sides cannot afford any more delays. After the talks, he said the North Koreans "do understand the time sensitivity of all this."
"I would say it was a good discussion," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the top U.S. negotiator with North Korea.
Hill said he and North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan had "a full discussion on all issues" and agreed to report back to their respective capitals.
"I think, depending on what we hear back from the capitals by tomorrow, there will be some further announcements very soon," he said.
"If all goes well, I hope we can have some further statements in Beijing tomorrow which would involve some follow-on activities," he told reporters after the one-day talks. Both Hill and Kim were scheduled to leave for China - North Korea's main ally - early today, but on different flights.
Kim was more upbeat, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.
"Differences have been narrowed a lot," Yonhap quoted Kim as telling Korean-speaking reporters. "I would say the talks were successful."
Neither he nor Hill provided any details.
The two sides are trying to break an impasse over North Korea's pledge to provide a full inventory of its nuclear activities and facilities. It says it provided a list in November, but the U.S. says it was incomplete.
The disagreement has stalled six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament.
Hill said ultimately the full list "will need to be submitted to the Chinese and then we'll need to do a six-party meeting."
In Washington, U.S. officials said they expected an imminent announcement from China, perhaps today, that the next six-party talks at the envoy level would take place in Shanghai on April 16.
Before starting yesterday's talks, Hill had made it clear time was running out and the two sides cannot afford any more delays. After the talks, he said the North Koreans "do understand the time sensitivity of all this."
Be the first to comment on this story