NKorea 6-party talks may resume next week

Kuala Lumpur, July 20: Six-party talks to resolve a standoff over North Korea's nuclear plans may resume in Malaysia next week on the sidelines of a regional security summit, Malaysian foreign minister said today.

''There's nothing to stop them in doing so,'' Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told Reuters, referring to the possible talks.

''They are represented at the highest level. Even Condoleezza Rice, the U.S. Secretary of State, has confirmed her attendance.'' The six-party talks, involving the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, China and Russia, stalled last November after Pyongyang objected to US financial sanctions based on accusations that it counterfeited US currency and trafficked drugs.

Malaysia hosts the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the region's premier diplomatic event, on July 28 following annual ASEAN ministerial meetings. Syed Hamid said besides Rice, foreign ministers from the other five countries would be attending the ARF.

Reuters