Six-party talks endeavor to translate commitment into action

The latest session of the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue ended with a chairman's statement, which experts say signifies all parties endeavor to translate the commitments into actions.

The first session of the six-party talks, the fifth since 2003, began Wednesday and focused on "outlining details, ways and procedures for the implementation" of the landmark joint statement, which was adopted at the fourth round of talks in September.

The chairman's statement issued Friday said the parties reaffirmed that they would "fully" implement the joint statement in line with the principle of "commitment for commitment, action for action."

"The statement shows that the talks have got a clearer focus and are drawing closer to the actual actions," said Liu Jiangyong, expert on international studies of Tsinghua University.

The talks group China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea(ROK), Russia and Japan.

Chief US negotiator Christopher Hill described the talks as "achieving benchmark," saying that the delegations of China, ROK, Japan and Russia have all made "good approaches and positive suggestions."

China shared with other parties its "roadmap" at the beginning of the latest session Wednesday.

Wu Dawei, China's chief negotiator, suggested that the fifth round be carried out in phases: the delegation heads of the six nations first table a general scenario and a working group or expert panel works out detailed rules and submit them to the delegation heads for consultations.

Head of the Japanese delegation Kenichiro Sasae Friday hailed the chairman's statement, saying it gave full consideration to the interests of all parties and would help implement the joint agreement in a comprehensive and rapid manner.

Earlier, Sasae proposed setting up "two working groups "specializing respectively in DPRK nuclear dismantlement and inspection, and economic and energy aid to the DPRK.

Qin Gang, spokesman for Chinese delegation, told a press briefing Wednesday that it might be an "appropriate choice" to set up working groups or expert teams so as to implement the joint statement.

"It will be more easier to reach consensus within working groups than in the plenary session as working groups tend to be more efficient," said Ruan Zongze, deputy director of the China Institute of International Studies.

But the positions of the two primary actors, the DPRK and United States, remained widely apart.

"We have raised very seriously the financial sanctions which were imposed by the U.S. on (North Korea),'' Kim Gye-Gwan, DPRK's chief delegate, told reporters after three-days of negotiations Friday.

Washington imposed sanctions in October on some North Korean companies.

"These kinds of sanctions are in violation of the joint statement we have adopted and is going to hinder the implementation of the commitment we have made," Kim said.

Chief US negotiator Hill repeatedly told reporters during the latest session that DPRK did not stop running its nuclear facilities after the landmark joint agreement. He reiterated the US position to urge the DPRK to abandon its nuclear weapon and uranium enrichment programs at an early date.

Yet there is still ground for the two parties to build up trust.

" The DRPK and the United States have focused discussion on confidence building," Kim said, adding that the two parties "addressed each other's concerns and will take steps in phased manner."

"There will be technical meetings and discussions" in the near future, Hill told reporters.

The DPRK and the US have agreed to hold bilateral talks to solve the financial sanction issue and other issues, Kim noted.

Kim also called on all concerned parties to take simultaneous actions to narrow the differences.

The Parties agreed to hold the second session at the earliest possible date, chairman's statement said.

Source: Xinhua