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Six-nation envoys start latest round of N Korea talks

Envoys to six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament held bilateral meetings yesterday ahead of what they described as a crucial round of negotiations, saying steps taken now could help ensure that North Korea provides no nuclear know-how to other countries.

Chief US envoy Christopher Hill said the six nations involved in the talks were entering an important phase. North Korea has described the upcoming round as make-or-break.

"It looks like a busy day and I think we'll have a good sense about what will come out of this in a few days," Hill told reporters yesterday.

BILATERAL MEETINGS

Hill held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from North Korea and China ahead of a full meeting later yesterday that will also include envoys from Russia, South Korea and Japan.

It was Hill's second meeting with North Korea's Kim Kye-gwan since the US envoy arrived on Wednesday.

The latest round of the six-nation talks, which have dragged on for more than three years during which North Korea successfully detonated a nuclear device, come after Israeli warplanes attacked a Syrian installation on Sept. 6.

AIR STRIKE

Foreign news reports have cited officials and experts as saying the strike targeted either arms meant for Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon or some sort of nonconventional weapons target, perhaps a joint Syrian-North Korean nuclear project. Syria has denied both claims and North Korea has denied a nuclear link with Damascus.

Israel has not confirmed the attack or commented about it.

"The surest and most fundamental solution" to such nuclear proliferation allegations is to "achieve denuclearization through the six-party talks as soon as possible," South Korean envoy Chun Yung-woo said after arriving in Beijing.

Hill did not comment on whether he would raise the Syria issue with the North Koreans, but said: "The issue of proliferation generally has always been an issue on our agenda and will continue to be."

KEY DISCUSSIONS

Hill said the talks, to run through Sunday, could be key as the parties try to get North Korea to declare and disable all its nuclear programs.

Under an agreement reached in earlier talks in February, North Korea is to be provided with a million tonnes of heavy fuel oil, or the monetary equivalent in other aid and assistance. In return, North Korea agreed to shut down its main nuclear reactor -- which it did in July -- and then declare and ultimately dismantle all its nuclear programs.

"North Korea should declare all the facilities it has. Sincerity is the most important thing," Chun said.
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