North Korea nuclear talks to resume on November 9: China

BEIJING, (AFP) — China announced the latest round of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program will begin on November 9 and expressed confidence progress could be made if all sides remained committed.

"After consultations with relevant parties the six-party talks will begin on November 9," foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan told reporters.

"We hope all parties concerned take an active and constructive attitude to start the new round of talks and make joint efforts."

The previous round of talks ended in September with a statement of principles under which North Korea would give up its nuclear weapons program in return for energy and security guarantees.

But immediately following the end of those talks, Pyongyang said it would not dismantle its nuclear arsenal until the United States agreed to supply it with a light-water atomic reactor to generate electricity.

The United States has since insisted that ...