Home>News Center>World
         
 

Six-party talks totter into no man's land
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-08-04 07:00

"The United States and North Korea remain far apart over their positions on key issues," said one Japanese delegate.

With tensions high, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke by telephone on Wednesday. The Foreign Ministry said the pair had exchanged views on Sino-U.S. relations and "issues of common concern."

NARROWING DIFFERENCES

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said the sides had been narrowing their differences over a possible joint text but it was unclear whether negotiations would bear fruit.

"I think we're really getting to the end of the negotiating process," Hill said.

"I'm not going to predict that it's over today or tomorrow, I just don't know, but certainly in terms of the negotiating process for this past 10 days, I think we are getting to the end of this," he added.

Top South Korean envoy Song Min-soon said the latest Chinese draft statement contained points on the North's dismantling of the programs and matching measures by the other parties.

Other points included supplying the energy-strapped North with heavy fuel oil and electricity, a provision on the peaceful use of nuclear energy by Pyongyang, and normalisation of its relations with the United States and Japan.

Seoul's Yonhap news agency said it also contained points on security guarantees and verification.

Intelligence experts estimate the North Koreans have stockpiled enough plutonium for up to nine nuclear weapons.
Page: 123



Japanese PM launches general election campaign
Katrina slams US Gulf Coast, oil rigs adrift
Japan's 6 parties square off in TV debate
 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

President Hu Jintao: Gender equality crucial

 

   
 

Special grants offered to poor students

 

   
 

EU takes steps to unblock China textiles

 

   
 

Farmers sue county for illegal land use

 

   
 

Search for 123 trapped miners suspended

 

   
 

Hurricane Katrina rocks New Orleans

 

   
  Bush promises post-storm help for victims
   
  Sharon: Not all settlements in final deal
   
  Hurricane Katrina rocks New Orleans
   
  Sri Lanka PM focuses on ending civil war
   
  Musharraf warns Pakistan Islamic schools
   
  Katrina may cost insurers $25 bln
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
N. Korea talks may end without agreement
   
Meeting of chief negotiators of six-party talks to continue
   
China proposes new draft at nuke talks
   
Six-Party joint document could arrive today
   
Nuclear talks enter uncharted territory
   
6 parties to start drafting common document
   
Parties target nuke-free peninsula
  News Talk  
  Are the Republicans exploiting the memory of 9/11?  
Advertisement