CHINA / National
US negotiator on North Korea to visit China
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-05-19 10:54
The chief U.S. negotiator to six-party talks on dismantling North Korea's
nuclear programs will visit Beijing next week, China's foreign ministry
said on Thursday, amid a renewed push to revive the stalled negotiations.
Christopher Hill, the top U.S. envoy on the standoff over North Korea's
atomic weapons program, speaks during an interview with the Associated
Press at U.S. Embassy in Seoul, April 7, 2005. [AP]
Christopher Hill will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wu Dawei,
during the May 24-25 visit to China, which has played host to talks that
North Korea has refused to return to since an inconclusive session last
November.
"The six-party talks are presently facing some difficulties and require
the relevant sides to adopt a flexible attitude ... and push forward the
early resumption of talks to make continuous progress," the Foreign
Ministry said in a statement.
News of Hill's visit comes as the New York Times reported that the United
States was considering a new approach to North Korea that would involve
beginning negotiations on a peace treaty at the same time as the
six-party talks.
North Korea has long demanded a permanent peace treaty to replace the
armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said he had not seen the
New York Times report but added that China would welcome discussions on a
peace treaty and said such an agreement could help push forward the goal
of a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.
"I hope the parties concerned can take practical measures to narrow their
differences and build consensus," Liu told a regular news briefing.
It was unclear whether opening discussions on a peace treaty would lure
North Korea back to the nuclear talks, which group the two Koreas, the
United States, Japan, Russia and host China.
"It sounds all very plausible, except it has a precondition that
essentially makes it a non-starter," said Kim Sung-han of the Institute
of Foreign Affairs and Security in Seoul, which is affiliated with South
Korea's foreign ministry.
He was referring to the North returning to the talks.
Pyongyang has refused to return to the six-party talks since last
November in anger over Washington's crackdown on firms the United States
suspects of aiding the North in illicit financial activities.
Related Stories
� Hill visits Beijing to push for nuke talks
===========================================================================
� U.S. envoy: North Korea nukes went to Libya
===========================================================================
� Six major powers to seek unity on Iran
===========================================================================
� U.S. rules out bilateral talk with N.Korea
===========================================================================
� US, China to meet on reviving N.Korea nuclear talks
===========================================================================
� Vice FM to visit Japan for DPRK nuclear talks: spokesman
===========================================================================
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Today's Top News
� 21 killed, 1mln evacuated as typhoon hits S.China
� FM brands spying claims 'fictitious'
� Chairman Mao portrait up for auction
� 'Genius training centre' under fire
� Pay rises by 16% for State sector workers
Top China News
� Japan and China fail to bridge gulf on sea dispute
� Dangerous breast enlargement gel banned in China
� Japan, China talks end without breakthrough
� China faces rising temperatures
� China's SARS battle should be appreciated
Alibaba is the largest B2B marketplace in the world. Source model ship,
wooden puzzle, one-piece toilet, RC hovercraft, photo album, prom dress,
pocket bike, Vaginal Speculum, Samurai Sword, String Panty and PVC Pipe.
Chinese Online Class
No comments:
Post a Comment