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Six-nation ministerial talks on the North Korean nuclear problem could be held in September for the first time since multilateral efforts to resolve the issue started in 2003, the U.S. State Department said Monday. The six nations have so far been represented by envoys at deputy level. AFP quoted U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack as saying, ¡°If all that goes according to schedule I think you could look at something as early as September.¡±
He said several working groups set up under the six-party mechanism to discuss rewards for North Korea for abandoning its nuclear program would begin a series of meetings this week. The spokesman hinted that the ministerial talks will be held separately from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, which will run in Australia from Sept. 5 through 9. After North Korea shut down its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon in compliance with a February denuclearization agreement, the U.S. said conditions would mature for a meeting among foreign ministers from North and South Korea, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia. The agenda for the ministerial talks has yet to be chosen. But U.S. government officials said Washington aims to make stronger efforts to put an end to North Korea¡¯s nuclear program at the meeting.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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