N. Korean Delegate Admits to Possessing Nuclear Weapons North Korean Talks End with Some Progress, Promise of More Talks Fourth Round of Six Party Talks to Resume by September

According to a draft of a U.S. joint-declaration obtained by the Munhwa Ilbo, the U.S. set a three-month period for North Korea to begin basic preparations for ending its nuclear programs. During that three-month period, the North would have to ▲ announce it would give up all of its nuclear programs, including its HEU program; ▲ suspend its nuclear program; ▲ seal its nuclear facilities and nuclear materials; ▲ permit open measures for the abandonment of its nuclear weapons, raw materials and centrifuges. If the North carries out these measures, heavy fuel oil provision could begin. The oil would be provided by the parties to the six-party talks (South Korea, Japan, China and Russia), but not by the United States.

The newspaper said that core Bush administration officials are saying this plan represents a change in direction from its existing, "complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling" position, and it's distinctive because it resembles the comprehensive negotiating plan that has been pushed by South Korea.

The paper added, however, that is was unclear whether the North would accept carrying out the four demands, including acknowledging its highly enriched uranium program, and this is expected to become the third round of the six-party talks' biggest point of contention.

If the North carries out those four demands in three months, the U.S. would ▲ as stage two, guarantee the North's security; ▲ as stage three, provide non-nuclear energy to the North through assessments with other counties; ▲ as stage four, begin discussions of removing North Korea from its list of terrorist states. The fifth state called for total measures, including diplomatic normalization, taking place after North Korea has been denuclearized.

(englishnews@chosun.com )