The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday
expressed disappointment over the United States' stand in the
second round of six-party talks on the nuclear issue of the DPRK
that ended in Beijing on Saturday.
"The United States did not show any stand to co-exist with the
DPRK but persistently pursue its policy of isolating and stifling
the DPRK," a spokesman of the DPRK's Foreign Ministry told the
official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"We had expected that a frank discussion on ways of seeking a
solution to the nuclear issue between the DPRK and the United
States (in the second round of six-party talks) would open a
certain prospect of settling the issue, so we showed the
willingness in the talks to scrap our nuclear program according to
a proposal for a simultaneous package solution aiming to
denuclearize the Korean Peninsula," said the spokesman.
"But the United States again insisted on its old stand (in the
talks) that unless the DPRK first abandons the nuclear program
completely, verifiably and irreversibly should the Untied States
discuss the issues concerned by the DPRK," he added.
He said the head of US delegation "only read the prepared
script, showing no sincerity and giving no answers even to the
questions raised."
"In spite of this situation we yet consented to open the next
round of the six-party talks and organize a working group to seek a
peaceful solution to the nuclear issue through dialogue at any
cost, " said the spokesman.
"The settlement of the nuclear issue will entirely depend on the
change of the United States' attitude," the spokesman said, noting
that it would be "difficult to expect that any further talks would
be helpful to the solution to the issue" unless such a change
occurs.
The four-day second round of the six-party talks on the Korean
Peninsula nuclear issue ended Saturday with all the sides agreeing
on setting up a working group and on the timing of the next
round.
The talks, between the United States, China, the DPRK, the
Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, focused on the goal of
realizing a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.
A chairman's statement released at the end of the talks said the
six parties "expressed their commitment to a nuclear-weapon-free
Korean Peninsula, and to resolving the nuclear issue peacefully
through dialogue in a spirit of mutual respect and consultations on
an equal basis."
The six sides discussed "substantive issues," and enhanced the
understanding of each other's positions. They agreed to take
coordinated steps to address the nuclear issue and related
concerns, said the statement.
Delegations of the six countries are expected to meet again
before the end of June for the third round of talks. A working
group will be set up in preparation for that.
(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2004)