Home>News Center>World
         
 

US rejects North Korea's disarmament idea
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-11-10 09:36

The United States brushed aside North Korea's fresh proposal to abandon its nuclear arms as six-nation disarmament talks resumed in Beijing with sharp differences remaining between the two.

Chief US delegate Christopher Hill said North Korea put forward unspecified steps to rid itself of nuclear weapons and nuclear programs in exchange for energy aid, security guarantees and other benefits.

Chief U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill speaks to journalists before attending six-party nuclear talks in Beijing November 10, 2005. New talks to end North Korea's nuclear programme appear to have made modest progress but, going into their second day on Thursday, Washington and Pyongyang remained at odds over the timing and order of denuclearisation.
Chief U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill speaks to journalists before attending six-party nuclear talks in Beijing November 10, 2005. New talks to end North Korea's nuclear programme appear to have made modest progress but, going into their second day on Thursday, Washington and Pyongyang remained at odds over the timing and order of denuclearisation.[Reuters]
"I think that the DPRK (North Korea) needs to understand that we need to move swiftly on denuclearization and the fact that denuclearization is the first step in the agreement," Hill told reporters.

The two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan convened the fifth round of the talks following their September 19 agreement on principles in the disarmament-for-benefits deal.

Progress in the 27-month-old talks has stalled over sharp differences about who does what first.

"I think the DPRK has a much more deliberately slower process of how to handle denuclearization," Hill added after having a one-on-one dinner with his North Korean counterpart Kim Gye-Gwan that followed a flurry of plenary and bilateral contacts on the first day of the new six-nation round.

Song Min-soon, South Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister and top negotiator for the six-party talks, speaks to journalists on his way to nuclear talks from his hotel in Beijing November 10, 2005.
Song Min-soon, South Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister and top negotiator for the six-party talks, speaks to journalists on his way to nuclear talks from his hotel in Beijing November 10, 2005.[Reuters]
North Korea insisted it was ready to give up its nuclear programs and weapons in phases on condition it was provided with a light-water reactor, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported quoting a negotiation source.

"They (North Korea) introduced some elements that are not in the agreed principles" and that "we are not able to work with," Hill said. "On the other hand, they showed a willingness to move forward to figure out how to implement principles."
Page: 12



Suicide bombers kill 57 at Jordan hotels
Health experts plan regional stockpiles of antiviral drugs
Plane crash exercise in Manila
 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

2 Chinese among 57 killed in Jordan hotel bombings

 

   
 

Blair: China's rapid development not a threat

 

   
 

New outbreaks reported, 'situation serious'

 

   
 

China: Little progress on N. Korea talks

 

   
 

Panel urges US-China energy cooperation

 

   
 

Hostage stand-off ends in suicide blast

 

   
  2 Chinese killed in Jordan hotel bombings
   
  US rejects North Korea's disarmament idea
   
  Rioting begins to slack off in France
   
  Asia terror chief believed killed in Indonesia
   
  US feds indict 2 in missile-smuggling scheme
   
  Saddam's defense team threatens to boycott
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
North Korean nuclear talks resume in Beijing
   
US stands firm on North Korea as nuclear talks open
   
Delegates gather for North Korea nuclear talks
   
Negotiators arrive in Beijing for North Korean nuclear talks
  News Talk  
  Are the Republicans exploiting the memory of 9/11?  
Manufacturers, Exporters, Wholesalers - Global trade starts here.
Advertisement