US hints N Korea talks near end

BBC (UK) ^ | August 03, 2005 | (No author accredited)

[NickatNite2003]

A US envoy has suggested the latest round of talks on North Korea's nuclear programme, now in its ninth day, could be nearing some kind of conclusion.

Christopher Hill was speaking after China put forward yet another draft of a proposed joint statement.

Mr Hill called the latest proposal "a very important text... designed to narrow the differences".

The North wants security guarantees and aid before it will scrap its programme, conditions the US has baulked at.

Both Mr Hill and North Korean envoy Kim Kye-gwan had earlier expressed doubts that an agreement would be achieved.

Six nations - the two Koreas, the US, China, Russia and Japan - are taking part in the talks, already at record length, in the Chinese capital.

'Bright future'

Before leaving for talks on Wednesday, Mr Hill said the fourth draft - sent overnight to all the teams - appeared to be aiming to "get to the point where we can agree something".

[NickatNite2003]

"Nobody knows the trouble this poor boys' seen. People will believe anything..."

>B-)

[libertylover]

The crisis first erupted in 2002 when the United States accused North Korea of pursuing nuclear arms.

Hogwash!!! This is just the BBC trying to blame the United States in general and Bush in particular. No mention of Clinton's doomed-to-failure deal of the 1990s.

[DJtex]

Bush has played admirable hard-ball here. Any breakthrough now will be another enormous success for him in an already successful summer.