The United States and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have made progress but no breakthrough towards settling Pyongyang's long-delayed declaration of its nuclear activities, US envoy Christopher Hill said yesterday.
Six-country talks aimed at curbing North Korea's nuclear ambitions have been stalled pending a full accounting of DPRK's nuclear activities, including the plutonium that powered its first and only nuclear test blast in October 2006.
The declaration was due at the end of 2007 after negotiators settled on a deal earlier that year offering DPRK energy and economic aid in return for disarmament steps.
US Assistant Secretary of State Hill said talks in Beijing yesterday, and in Singapore the day before, had yielded progress but not a final deal on the declaration.
"We've definitely made some progress," Hill told reporters following talks with nuclear negotiators from China, Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan.
DPRK and Russia also participate in the six-party talks that China hosts.
"We have a lot of work ahead of us. I don't want to suggest there's been any major breakthrough," Hill added.
"We haven't yet arranged for all the factors, or the elements, that have to be put together."
DPRK's official KCNA news agency quoted an unnamed Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying the meeting in Singapore showed the effectiveness of bilateral dialogue and Pyongyang would fulfil its commitments.
"A consensus was reached on the US measure to make political compensation and the nuclear declaration essential for winding up the implementation of the agreement," the spokesman said.
If Pyongyang makes a declaration that satisfies Washington, it stands to be removed from a US terrorism blacklist and be better able to tap into finance that could boost its economy.
China's chief negotiator in the talks, Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, jokingly suggested full settlement of the DPRK's nuclear declaration was not imminent.
"In the course of six-party talks, some obstacles have arisen," Wu told reporters.
"Now these obstacles are gradually being removed. But to totally remove these obstacles will take some time."
Asked how long that would take, Wu said, "Probably in Autumn," and smiled when reporters laughed.
Source: China Daily/Agencies
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