DPRK proposes `stop' of nuclear activities
(China Daily by Hu Xiao)
Updated: 2004-02-27 00:02

The Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) put forward a proposal for a "comprehensive stop" of nuclear activities during the second day of the on-going six-party talks, said the Chinese host Thursday.

Liu Jianchao, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman and member of the Chinese delegation to the six-party talks told reporters after Thursday's discussions that all sides had a "deep and practical" discussion on the proposal.

From left to right, US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly, Republic of Korea Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck, Democratic People's Republic of Korea Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan, Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Japanese chief negotiator Mitoji Yabunaka and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losiukov reach their first consensus on joining hands together February 25 prior to their talks at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. [newsphoto]

"All sides welcome the DPRK's proposal for a comprehensive stop to its nuclear activities and consider such a move an essential step toward its nuclear dismantlement," Liu said, adding that all sides understand the "relevant requirements" raised by DPRK.

A DPRK official Thursday evening confirmed DPRK's proposed stance to freeze all its nuclear programmes, including those for peaceful purposes, in the six-party talks.

Thursday's talks, which were regarded by analysts "decisive" for the success of this second round of talks, were also said to have entered a "critical phase" on discussing abandoning nuclear programmes, security concerns and economic co-operation.

While meeting with delegation heads and diplomatic envoys, State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan said China hopes that all sides will show mutual respect, exercise "maximum flexibility" and explore "feasible solutions" to the issue.

Heads of the delegations told Tang that they believed the talks were constructive and provided unprecedented opportunities for a peaceful solution of the nuclear issue, said Chinese foreign ministry sources.

The six parties discussed first-phase action and relevant measures to realize a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula during Thursday's meeting, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry but gave out no detailed arrangement saying participants would have further discussions.

Besides China and the DPRK, the talks also involve the United States, Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan.

Diplomats and observers in Asia said some positive signals appeared but it's still too early to be optimistic.

Liu Jiangyong, a leading international relations specialist at Tsinghua University in Beijing said that seeking for a peaceful resolution has been the "main stream and common ground" in the international community.

Both DPRK and the United States have signaled modest flexibility, but, he reminded, the reality is that the United States and DPRK are still far apart and it is unrealistic to expect a "major breakthrough" through one or two talks.

The complicated issue should be seen in a much broader perspective, and its solution depends upon many other factors such as "in-depth" contacts between the DPRK and the United States, the expert said.

Liu Jiangyong also predicted that this round of talks may result in a commitment to keep talking as well as a statement of consensus.

China has pushed the participating countries to agree to issue a written statement at the conclusion of the talks, Chinese vice-foreign minister Dai Bingguo said in a recent interview.

Liu Jianchao said Thursday that the second-day talks focused on specific steps to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and confirmed there were still some disagreement while consensus grew.

Russian chief negotiator Alexander Losiukov said Thursday the six sides also discussed the signing of a document. The Russian side hoped that the DPRK would clearly state in the document that it would abolish its nuclear programmes, and the United States would make clear the security assurance to the DPRK, said Losiukov.

ROK negotiator Lee Soo-hyuck told reporters Thursday that China and Russia expressed willingness to join the efforts of Seoul to offer energy aid to DPRK in exchange for a freeze of its nuclear weapons programmes, adding that Japan and the United States expressed understanding and support.

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