US envoy sees basis for progress on N Korea talks

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

BEIJING, Jan 22 (Reuters) Washington's envoy to North Korean nuclear talks said today he saw a basis for progress, saying the Chinese government could announce a date soon for a resumption of six-party negotiations that broke off in December.

US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill made the comments after lengthy discussions with Wu Dawei, China's chief negotiator.

''We hope that the Chinese government will be able to announce soon the start-up of the talks,'' Hill said, adding that Beijing would have to consult with the other participating countries before settling on a date.

China hosts the six-party talks, which also group the two Koreas, the United States, Japan and Russia. They began in 2003 with the aim of persuading impoverished Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear arms development.

The urgency of making headway has grown since the reclusive communist state defied international warnings last October and conducted its first nuclear test, triggering UN sanctions.

The aim of the talks now is to implement a September 2005 deal under which North Korea would abandon the nuclear option in exchange for aid and security guarantees.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said yesterday that the earliest possible date for reopening the talks was early February, Kyodo news agency reported.

Asked by reporters about the prospects for fresh talks, Hill said, ''I do believe we have a basis for making progress''.

As he prepared to leave Beijing, Hill briefed Wu about discussions he had held last week in Berlin with the North Korean representative, Kim Kye-gwan.

The last round in December ended inconclusively, but last week's three days of meetings in Berlin between Hill and Kim have raised hopes. North Korea's official news agency said on Friday a ''certain agreement'' had been reached there.

Kim held talks in Moscow yesterday with Russia's chief negotiator, Alexander Losyukov, on prospects of solving the dispute, the Russian foreign ministry said. Russian news agencies quoted Kim as saying he was pleased with the outcome.

REUTERS MQA BST0630

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X