U.S. hopes to make progress in six-party talks

The United States said on Thursday it hopes to make progress when the six-party talks aimed at dissolving the nuclear programs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) resume on Feb. 8.

"We do believe we have a basis for making progress at this round," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said at a briefing.

Hill noted that the United States has had extensive bilateral consultations with all of the six-party partners, including the talks with the DPRK in Berlin last month.

"We will not achieve full denuclearization in February, but we hope to make a substantial start on this. As for whether we'll be successful, time will tell," Hill said.

Hill stressed that the purpose of the six-party talks is "not so much to talk but rather to implement the September 2005 agreement."

During the round of six-party talks in September 2005, the DPRK signed a statement agreeing to give up its nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic aid and security guarantees from the United States and other countries. However, the DPRK refused to return to the talks as a result of U.S. financial sanctions.

Under pressure, the DPRK returned to the talks in December held in Beijing. However, the talks failed to make progress.

Source: Xinhua