WASHINGTON, D.C./BEIJING -- Participating countries in the six-nation talks -- North and South Korea, the U.S., China, Japan, and Russia -- closed the four days of the second round talks in Beijing and agreed that host China would issue its own statement about the talks, including the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue, and the composition of working groups to arrange the third round of the six-nation talks.
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Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) explains the results of the second round of six-party talks at the closing ceremony in Beijing, supervised by Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (center)./Yonhap
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Participating countries agreed to deal with specific solutions to the North Korean nuclear issue at the first working group council, which is expected to be held in March, and at the third round of the six-nation talks. The specific solutions will include the range and method of North Korea¡¯s dismantling of its nuclear programs and corresponding measures to be taken by other countries during the process of dismantlement.
Participating countries intended on adopting a ¡°joint press announcement¡± but as the U.S. opposed North Korea's request that the phrase ¡°there were differences in opinion in the conference¡±be inserted into the joint statement, the announcement was lowered to a ¡°host statement¡± and the phrase "differences still remain" was used instead.
U.S. Department of State said in an announcement made Saturday, ¡°there was partial progress during the four days of conference and the U.S. welcomes the results of the second round of the six-nation talks,¡± and ¡°we hope that North Korea and five other countries will cooperate and seek a satisfying solution that was caused because of [North Korea¡¯s] nuclear programs.¡±
Meanwhile, Kim Gye-kwan, chief delegate of the North Korean delegation and North Korean Vice Foreign Minister said in a press conference right after the council, ¡°there were dealings with Pakistan, selling missiles and receiving cash in order to earn dollars. However, there were none [dealings] in the unnecessary enriched uranium part.¡±
This was the first time for a high North Korean official to officially admit to the missile dealings with Pakistan.
(Joo Yong-joong, midway@chosun.com )
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