U.S., North Korea Begin Low-Level Talks on Nuclear Program Amid Warnings Not to Expect Breakthrough

AP ^ | June 20, 2004

[nuconvert]

U.S., North Korea Begin Low-Level Talks on Nuclear Program Amid Warnings Not to Expect Breakthrough

Stephanie Hoo/Associated Press

Jun 20, 2004

BEIJING (AP) - Diplomats from the United States, North Korea and four other nations began low-level talks Monday on the North's nuclear program, amid warnings by host China against hoping for any major breakthrough. The two days of so-called "working-level" talks are meant to help create an agenda for a third round of high-level talks due to start Wednesday. In addition to China, other participants include South Korea, Japan and Russia.

The high-level talks would be the third time the nations have met in an attempt to end the dispute that began in late 2002 when Washington accused Pyongyang of pursuing nuclear weapons development in violation of a 1994 agreement.

"The expectations for these negotiations should be rational and realistic," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said last week. "In the process of settling this huge issue, difficulties and challenges still lie ahead."

At the heart of the dispute are two countries that do not trust each other. The United States, which has accused North Korea of belonging to an "axis of evil" with Iran and prewar Iraq, is demanding that the North give up its nuclear weapons program.

North Korea, which disputes U.S. claims about how advanced the program is, wants economic aid in return for a nuclear freeze as a first step.

After the dispute started in 2002, North Korea expelled U.N. nuclear inspectors, withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and restarted an idle nuclear reactor.

China, the North's last major ally, has tried to draw its isolated dictatorship back to the international mainstream.

Beijing says just getting North Korea to join the talks is a small victory.

"We hope these negotiations can build on the achievement of previous talks and have more in-depth discussions on substantive issues ... and narrow down differences," Zhang told reporters last week.

[Mister Baredog]

U.S., North Korea Begin Low-Level Talks on Nuclear Program Amid Warnings Not to Expect Breakthrough

Somethings are not worth wasting paper on, this is one of those things.

Since NK is a one man show I say we wait for the "high level talks" with Daffy Duck himself.LOL!

[OXENinFLA]

I don't know why, but these put a smile on me face....

A sign criticizing North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is burnt by protesters from a South Korean conservative civic group at a rally opposing North Korea (news - web sites)'s nuclear programs in Seoul June 22, 2004. Negotiators at six-party talks in Beijing this week will discuss a freeze of North Korea's nuclear programs and inspections leading to their dismantling, a South Korean official said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won

A South Korean activist burns a North Korean flag during a protest in Seoul. The United States said it is not optimistic ahead of six-party talks on North Korea (news - web sites)'s nuclear weapons drive, and put the onus on Pyongyang to demonstrate its commitment to full-scale denuclearization.(AFP/Jung Yeon-Je)

South Korean protesters chant slogans in front of a mock missile at a rally opposing North Korea (news - web sites)'s nuclear program in Seoul June 22, 2004. Negotiators at six-party talks in Beijing this week will discuss a freeze of North Korea's nuclear programs and inspections leading to their dismantling, a South Korean official said Tuesday. (Lee Jae-Won/Reuters