Little progress on third day of talks
By Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-09-16 05:57

The resumed Six-Party Talks on nuclear disarmament entered their third day yesterday, with major differences remaining.

"We have to be aware that the difficulties we are facing now are ones on the path of progress. They can be overcome," Chinese delegation spokesman Liu Jianchao quoted Chinese chief representative Wu Dawei as saying

However, China, host of the negotiations, urged all parties to continue to make constructive efforts to pave the way for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Liu told reporters yesterday evening after a chief delegate meeting.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) also stated its position to reporters yesterday, the first time since the resumption of the second phase of the talks.

The DPRK and US delegations held a 90-minute bilateral meeting yesterday, the second meeting since the resumption of the talks.

The DPRK delegation spokesman Hyun Hak-bong said negotiations are not making progress, blaming the lack of development on the differences between the two sides on the issue of the light-water reactor.

Pyongyang insisted on its right to civilian nuclear programmes, especially a light-water reactor. But the US side rejected the demand, saying it is not on the table.

Hyun said providing a light-water reactor is a matter of principle for building trust between the two sides, adding Pyongyang did not want to have an empty right to the peaceful use of nuclear power, but rather a concrete one.

He said the DPRK has put the question of the light-water reactor on the table and hoped the United States would get rid of the policy that is against the principle of "words for words, action for action."

However, Hyun said that his government still hopes to solve the nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue, and Pyongyang will hold a flexible attitude towards detailed questions.

Pyongyang held a 20-minute talk on the sideline of the multi-lateral consultation with Japan yesterday.

According to a source from the Japanese Embassy, Japan reiterated its stance to resolve various issues, including the abduction issue, on which Japan's position has not changed.

(China Daily 09/16/2005 page1)

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