A top US envoy expressed his frustration at North Korea yesterday for not returning to six-nation talks on its nuclear weapons program, but said the US was open to other types of negotiations as concerns mount about a possible nuclear test.
US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who was sched-uled to leave Tokyo for Beijing later in the day for talks with Chinese officials, said Pyongyang had not shown any signs of wanting to return to the stalled talks.
"They've chosen to essentially boycott the process," Hill said.
Hill had earlier met Japanese chief envoy Kenichiro Sasae, and the two agreed to cooperate with the other parties in the talks -- China, Russia and South Korea -- to bring the reclusive regime back to the negotiation table.
Hill said the nations were also open to other configurations, such as the so-called five-plus-five format that brought five of the six-party nations and five other regional nations together for talks in Kuala Lumpur in July.
North Korea was invited to attend the session but declined.
"We can look at other formats," Hill said. "The time for organized, multilateral diplomacy in Asia is now."
Hill's comments came as a South Korean newspaper said North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was likely to visit China within the next few days. The Joong Ang Ilbo stated that a special train used by Kim had arrived in a North Korean town on the border with China.
Hill said he had no information about such a visit by Kim.
"As you know, I take planes and he takes trains," Hill said. "So I'm not really sure what he's doing."
There has been speculation about a possible trip by Kim following South Korea's main spy agency's warning last week that Pyongyang could test a nuclear device any time. This warning followed reports of suspicious activity at a suspected North Korean underground test site.
The North claims to have nuclear weapons, but has not performed any known test to date.
China's foreign ministry last week denied reports of an imminent trip by Kim, saying no arrangements had been made.
North Korea triggered intense international protests when it tested seven missiles on July 5. All the rockets landed in the waters between Japan and the Korean Peninsula. No damage was reported.
While in China, Hill is scheduled to visit Beijing, followed by stops in Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shang-hai. He is then expected to visit Seoul on Sept. 11, before returning to Washington on Sept. 12, according to the US embassy.
The US, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea have tried to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear program at six-party negotiations. Those negotiations have been on hold since November last year because of North Korea's refusal to attend until Washington lifts financial restrictions against it.
The US has urged North Korea to come to the talks without preconditions, saying the financial issue is unrelated to the six-party talks but that it would be willing to discuss them in that forum.
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