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A proposed round of six-way talks aimed at resolving North Korea's nuclear ambitions is unlikely to take place before the end of this month as planned. That's the growing consensus among analysts and foreign diplomats. After a four-day trip to the North this week Britain's Foreign Office minister said he expects Pyongyang to wait out the U.S. presidential election in November so as to cut a deal with the winner over its nuclear weapons program.
The six-way talks over North Korea's nuclear ambitions are unlikely to be held by the end of this month as agreed in June. This is according to British junior Foreign Minister Bill Rammell in Beijing before leaving for North Korea. "I've certainly very strongly urged the North to do it according to the agreed time schedule which is before September. But they didn't, in normal discussions, give commitment to do that," said Rammell.
Rammell is among other western diplomats who were invited by the North to visit the site of a huge explosion last week that Pyongyang claims was caused by efforts to make a hydroelectric power plant. Also China, for the first time, officially said the 6-way talks have become unlikely to be held this month due to lack of time in making necessary preparations.
Since the last meeting in June, North Korea has been stepping up its criticism of "hostile U.S. policies" against the North.
Pyongyang has been seeking one-on-one talks with Washington but the U.S. has insisted on a 6-way framework comprising the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia.
Arirang TV
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