Envoys Gloomy As Talks Resume On North Korea Nuclear Drive
Senior envoys from six countries met in Beijing on Monday for the latest round of talks on dismantling North Korea's nuclear programs, amid gloom about the prospects for progress. The talks, likely a last-ditch effort by the administration of outgoing US President George W Bush to move ahead on one of its most drawn-out diplomatic challenges, began late in the afternoon, host nation China said. Hope for any progress has been dimmed by North Korea's opposition to the removal of atomic samples from its sites by inspectors. "I am afraid nobody among my counterparts saw any optimism in the prospects of the upcoming six-party talks," South Korea's chief delegate Kim Sook said before the session began. "Let's wait and see." He told reporters he hoped the North Koreans were not "dragging their feet" while waiting to gauge the stance of the incoming administration of US president-elect Barack Obama, who takes office next month. Chief US negotiator Christopher Hill also expressed only modest expectations. "We've prepared well for the meetings so we'll see if it's possible to get anything done. We're not trying to solve all the problems," he said. "Like all six-party meetings, it's going to be a difficult negotiation." The talks, grouping the United States, the two Koreas, China, Russia and Japan, got under way at a government compound in western Beijing despite the North's apparent refusal to deal with Japan. (cont)
Source: AFP
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