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China says it arranged US-DPRK meeting
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-19 19:40
China confirmed Thursday that it had arranged a meeting between U.S. and
North Korean officials this week in Beijing in an effort to restart six-nation
talks on the North's nuclear programs.
US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick
(R). Robert Zoellick is due to depart on a tour of Japan and China to
discuss security and trade issues, including Iran's disputed nuclear
program, the State Department said. [AFP] |
A Foreign Ministry spokesman, Kong Quan, wouldn't give any details of the
meeting.
Kong didn't name the U.S. or North Korean officials. But he said, "I won't
deny the name you said" when a reporter mentioned U.S. envoy Christopher Hill,
who South Korean media had said met with his North Korean counterpart in
Beijing.
Hill made a surprise visit to the Chinese capital as North Korean leader Kim
Jong Il wrapped up a weeklong visit to China. Hill said as he left that he met
with Chinese officials but didn't mention any meeting with the North Korean
envoy, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan.
"This contact shows the three parties have a positive attitude toward this,
believing that this contact is very helpful," Kong said at a regular news
briefing. "It is our hope that through efforts of relevant parties, we can
narrow differences."
Kong didn't give any details of the meeting. Hill said earlier that there was
no date for holding the next full round of nuclear talks. The other participants
are South Korea, Japan and Russia.
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