Foreign Minister Song Min-soon and his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing agreed Thursday to set down in writing an initial reward package for North Korea if it starts dismantling its nuclear program after the next round of six-nation talks. The document would aim to boost the binding power for South Korea, the U.S. and China when they give support to the North once it admits nuclear inspectors and freezes nuclear activities. In a meeting with Song in Beijing, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said China aims for the six-party talks to start before the Lunar New Year's holiday on Feb. 18 and is willing to continue through the holidays if necessary. It was a show of China¡¯s determination to reach a breakthrough in the next round.
