6TH LD: 6-nation talks begin with gaps between N. Korea, U.S

Japan Policy & Politics, March 1, 2004

BEIJING, Feb. 25 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING MORE INFO)

Six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions began Wednesday with North Korea expressing willingness to show flexibility, but the United States indicating its intention to reject Pyongyang's demand for compensation measures in exchange for freezing its nuclear program.

While pledging to contribute to a peaceful resolution, Japan said it will seek a comprehensive resolution to the North Korean nuclear and missile issues as well as the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the North. The two sides held bilateral talks on the sidelines but failed to make any progress.

South Korea proposed making the talks regular, saying that delegates should meet every two months, and that a working group should be set up at the level of the deputy delegation chiefs within two weeks of the conclusion of the current round of talks.

But no signs of a breakthrough emerged on the first day of the second round of talks, as North Korea appeared to have denied again the existence of an alleged uranium-enrichment program.

South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo Hyuck said that although North Korea touched on its alleged uranium-enriching activities in Wednesday's talks, it only ''repeated its basic position,'' indicating it denied having such a program.

A Japanese official also said no major changes in North Korea's position have been observed.

Whether North Korea, which has acknowledged producing plutonium, will admit to having a uranium-enrichment program is the main focus of the second round of talks involving China, Japan, North and South Korea, Russia and the U.S.

The talks, which are expected to last three days, will also highlight the North's proposal for freezing its nuclear programs.

The talks began in the morning with brief opening addresses and keynote speeches by their chief delegates at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in the Chinese capital. They are gathering for the first time since last August when the talks were launched in Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing also hosted a dinner in the evening.

In their remarks, the chief delegates reiterated their commitment to seeking a peaceful resolution to the 16-month nuclear crisis and trying to ensure the current round of talks is successful.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is hosting the talks, said the second round is significant because ''it launches discussions on substantive issues, marking another new step forward in the peace process.''

He added, however, ''As the talks go ahead, we will encounter more difficulties and challenges.''

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan said he expects ''positive'' results, noting his country will adhere to its principles but is also willing to show ''flexibility.''

North Korea is expected to explain its proposal to freeze its nuclear program in exchange for compensation measures, including energy aid and the lifting by the U.S. of its hostile policy, as the first step.

But U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly maintained that Pyongyang must dismantle both its plutonium and uranium programs in a ''complete, verifiable and irreversible'' manner.

If the North commits itself to abandoning its nuclear programs, however, Kelly said the U.S. is ready to join the four other countries in providing ''security assurances'' to Pyongyang.

He also said Washington has no intention of invading or attacking North Korea, as President George W. Bush has said in recent remarks.

North Korea and the U.S. had bilateral talks in the afternoon in their efforts to narrow their differences, although details of the talks are unavailable.

The North Korean nuclear crisis heightened in October 2002 when the U.S. said North Korea had admitted to conducting a secret program to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons.

China and Russia are expected to show sympathy with North Korea's proposal to freeze its nuclear program. South Korea is also likely to indicate its willingness to consider the North's proposal and offer energy aid if the proposal is a step toward abolishing the nuclear program.

Mitoji Yabunaka, director general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, said Japan is ready to discuss the North's proposal as a first step, and reiterated that it is prepared to offer economic cooperation if all pending issues are resolved and the two nations ultimately normalize their ties.

But he demanded that North Korea make a commitment to swiftly dismantle all of its nuclear programs and disclose all the information.

Yabunaka also stressed the need for ''fully effective'' international verification that the nuclear programs have been abandoned ''completely and permanently.''

He raised the abduction issue despite North Korea's repeatedly expressed opposition to Japan's plan to do so at the six-nation talks.

Yabunaka called for a comprehensive solution to all pending issues, including the nuclear and missile issues through the six-nation talks and the abduction problem through bilateral dialogue.