Seraphim
02-26-2004, 09:48 AM
By ELAINE KURTENBACH, Associated Press Writer
BEIJING - North Korea (news - web sites) said Thursday that six-nation talks on its nuclear program were not making progress because of "the United States' hardline position," an envoy for the country said, according to the South Korean news agency.
Pyongyang also said it would dismantle its atomic programs if Washington "abandons its hostile policy," the Yonhap agency reported.
These were North Korea's first public comments in Beijing since the second round of six-nation talks began Wednesday in the Chinese capital. The talks between the United States, China, Russia, Japan and the two Koreas concern the North's nuclear ambitions and Washington's insistence that Pyongyang stand down.
Choe Jin Su, the North Korean ambassador in Beijing, said during a brief news conference that "the second round of six-nation talks is not making progress because of the United States' hardline position," Yonhap reported.
"We will abandon our nuclear weapons program when the United States drops its hostile policy toward North Korea. The United States should take all the responsibility for the meeting not making progress."
BEIJING - North Korea (news - web sites) said Thursday that six-nation talks on its nuclear program were not making progress because of "the United States' hardline position," an envoy for the country said, according to the South Korean news agency.
Pyongyang also said it would dismantle its atomic programs if Washington "abandons its hostile policy," the Yonhap agency reported.
These were North Korea's first public comments in Beijing since the second round of six-nation talks began Wednesday in the Chinese capital. The talks between the United States, China, Russia, Japan and the two Koreas concern the North's nuclear ambitions and Washington's insistence that Pyongyang stand down.
Choe Jin Su, the North Korean ambassador in Beijing, said during a brief news conference that "the second round of six-nation talks is not making progress because of the United States' hardline position," Yonhap reported.
"We will abandon our nuclear weapons program when the United States drops its hostile policy toward North Korea. The United States should take all the responsibility for the meeting not making progress."