(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-25 20:46

Most of work on disabling the nuclear facilities at Yongbyon of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is to be completed by the end of this year, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang on Tuesday.

Qin made the remarks at a regular press conference on Tuesday afternoon when asked to comment on the latest progress of the six-party talks aimed at resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

Qin said China, as the chair of the six-party talks, would continue to keep close consultation and coordination so as to strive for an all-round and balanced implementation of the second phase action plan.

The commitments made by the other parties have also been actively and gradually carried forward, Qin added.

According to a six-party talks joint document released in Beijing on October 3, the DPRK agreed to disable all its existing nuclear facilities and provide a complete and correct declaration of all its nuclear programs by the end of this year.

The document said the disablement of the five-megawatt Experimental Reactor, the Reprocessing Plant (Radiochemical Laboratory) and the Nuclear Fuel Rod Fabrication Facility in Yongbyon would be completed by December 31.

The six-party talks, initiated in 2003 and aimed at resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, involve China, the DPRK, the United States, the ROK, Russia and Japan.