U.S. downplays failure to fix date of new round six-party talks

The United States insisted on Wednesday that it is making progress in promoting the resumption of six-party talks although negotiators failed to settle a resumption date for the nuclear disarmament talks.

"We are making progress," State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters, without providing specific details of the discussions.

"What's important is that when we get back to these talks that we do so in a way that allows that round to be successful," Casey said, adding "Certainly, we hope that that next round can take place as soon as possible."

The six-party talks, involving the United States, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia, has been stalled since November 2005 as the DPRK refused to return to the talks because of U.S. financial sanctions on the country.

The DPRK, which had a nuclear bomb test on Oct. 9, agreed early this month to return to the talks, but has yet to announce a formal return date.

Christopher Hill, assistant secretary of state and U.S. top negotiator in the talks, said that the United States wants to resume the talks in mid-December.

"I'm not sure if that's still the exact time frame he's thinking of, but I certainly don't have anything that contradicts that statement right now," Casey said.

The spokesman also admitted that U.S. financial restrictions against Pyongyang remain one of the problems that hampers the resumption of the six-party talks.

"We know this is something that's of concern to the North Koreans, and we've talked about establishing a working group in which we would be able to discuss those issues in the context of the six-party talks," Casey said. "I assume that's still a valid issue and concern of theirs."

Source: Xinhua