The parties to the third round of six-party talks all raised
proposals when the negotiations entered the second day to solve the
Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.??
In the briefing after the second-day closed-door meeting,
Chinese delegation member Zhang Qiyue said that on Thursday parties
discussed the detailed proposals put forward by the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States and the
Republic of Korea (ROK). China, Russia and Japan also put forward
their own solution plans.
Cho Tae-yong, deputy head of the ROK delegation, said the US
delegation voiced its opinions on the program of "freezing for
compensation" set forth by the DPRK delegation and on the ROK
delegation's proposal.
The delegations to the talks held that substantial consultations
should be taken as a starting point to press ahead toward the
solution to the issue, and meanwhile, all relevant parties have
become aware that significant differences remain between the
proposals of the DPRK, the United States and the ROK.
Mitoji Yabunaka, head of the Japanese delegation, said Japan
would participate in the international energy assistance for the
DPRK if the DPRK's nuclear-freezing initiative were confirmed.
Russian delegation head Alexander Alexeyev said the on-going
talks will not go without any result. "Discussions on these
proposals were underway for seeking common platform," he said.
Since the delegations from the DPRK, the United States and the
ROK put forward their proposals Wednesday, neither the DPRK nor the
United States have openly made any comments. Chinese delegation
head Wang Yi said all parties concerned were willing to treat other
counterparts' plans seriously and in a spirit of looking forward,
which embodied mutual respect and equal consultation.
The ROK side confirmed that the DPRK and the United States held
bilateral consultation Thursday afternoon for more than two hours,
and other bilateral consultations between the ROK and China,
between Japan and the DPRK were also held Thursday afternoon.
The United States and the ROK revealed separately their
proposals Wednesday evening. The US delegation made a seven-page
proposal to give the DPRK three-month preparatory period for
dismantlement and removal of nuclear facilities, and to require the
DPRK to offer the US side a listing of nuclear activities at
various time. The proposal also set ways to solve the security
concerns of the DPRK.
The ROK delegation proposed detailed plans and corresponding
measures on the abandonment of the nuclear programs. Lee Soo-hyuck,
the ROK delegation head, said there were no differences between the
US and ROK on the major orientations and principles on resolving
the nuclear issue. The DPRK still did not reveal its proposal.
"Now the DPRK and the United States are both faced with
opportunities and obstacles," said Wang Yizhou, a researcher on
international relations from the Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences. "The DPRK would be under much pressure if it is
determined not to give up nuclear plan, and the United States also
hopes to win domestic support by achieving something from the
talks."
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing gave a dinner in Beijing
Thursday evening for the six delegations. In his address at the
dinner, Li said this round of talks has a good beginning. Various
parties have set forth new proposals and new ideas, which added
originality to the talks.
However, good things never come easy, Li acknowledged. "We need
to resort to our patience, wisdom and creativity to surmount
obstacles, tide over twists and turns in fulfilling our glorious
mission."
(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2004)