Six-party nuclear talks on North Korea start today
The fifth round of six-party talks on North Korea resumes today in Beijing. According to a diplomatic source, the main aim of the talks is to produce a specific joint statement. The source said that because the six nations have high hopes for the fifth round, there is a higher likelihood to conclude the nuclear talks with a joint statement.
In particular, many eyes are on North Korean negotiator Kim Kye-gwan, scheduled to arrive in Beijing today, and cautiously watching his diplomacy.
A diplomatic strategist said, “It is forecast that the North will demand energy assistance available to produce 20 million kilowatts, elimination of North Korea from the list of terrorist nations, and removal of sanctions on the North in exchange for dismanling its nuclear facilities.”
The source added, “These talks will move along with bilateral meetings after the six nations have a multilateral meeting on the opening day because the US and North Korea exchanged their principal positions related to the North’s nuclear dismantlement and the US rewards in return for it at the meeting in December in Berlin."
Concerning the initial process for dismantling the North’s nuclear facilities, it is expected that the five nations, excluding North Korea, will call for the North to shut down its five nuclear facilities, to stop producing additional plutonium and to welcome IAEA inspections.
With regards to energy aid in return, some analysts are worrying that if there is no progress on specific agenda items during the talks, some nations will take a negative stance on energy assistance, which are share-principal talks.
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 / 입력시간: 2007. 02.09. 08:17
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