The six parties to the Korean Peninsula nuclear talks have
somewhat "finetuned" their stances on the scope of and conditions
for dunuclearization, the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy
and the light-water reactor issues, said South Korea's chief
negotiator.
Song Min-soon, chief negotiator of South Korea, made the remarks
Thursday evening at a press briefing. Song said that during the
two-hour chief negotiators' meeting Thursday afternoon, the parties
clarified their positions on key differences, but he declined to
give details.
The parties have demonstrated their resolve to continue the
talks and vowed to strive for a common document, he said.
Nevertheless, Song said it is hard to predict how long the talks
will proceed as it is entering the phase of "substantial
discussion."
South Korea and Chinese delegations had dinner Thursday evening
for consultation after the chief negotiators' meeting, he said,
adding both sides agreed to work for narrowing the core differences
between relevant parties.
He said the Chinese delegation is to hold bilateral meetings
with relevant delegations Friday to promote progress of the
talks.
Hyon Hak-bong, spokesman for the delegation of North Korea, said
the difference between North Korea and the US on the light-water
reactor issue has become a major obstacle for the six-party
talks.
The six parties, China, North Korea, the US, South Korea, Russia
and Japan, reopened the nuclear talks Tuesday after a five-week
recess.
However, the talks hit a snag Wednesday as the North Korean
delegation insisted on its right to civilian nuclear programs,
especially alight-water reactor, while the US side rejected North
Korea's demand, saying it is not on the table.
(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2005)