US wants quick resumption of nuke talks
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-12 08:49

The United States wants to quickly resume nuclear talks with North Korea, the U.S. envoy to Seoul said Thursday, as the top American negotiator headed to China for discussions on the North's nuclear ambitions.

"The United States is eager to resume negotiations as soon as possible so that we can make rapid progress toward the elimination of North Korea's nuclear programs," U.S. ambassador Alexander Vershbow said in a speech in Seoul. "Our negotiators are packed and ready to go."

Christopher Hill, the top U.S. negotiator for international nuclear talks with North Korea, listens to a reporter's question after he arrived at Kimpo International Airport in Seoul, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006.[AP]

The top U.S. negotiator said Wednesday he plans to query Chinese officials for signs Pyongyang is serious about abandoning its nuclear programs.

"We are interested in talks about progress and talks about denuclearization," US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill told reporters upon arrival in South Korea for an overnight stop before proceeding to Beijing on Thursday.

"We'll have to see what the Chinese have heard most recently from the DPRK side, and perhaps they have some very fresh news," Hill said, referring to the North by the abbreviation of its official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

Hill's Asia trip comes as six-nation nuclear talks aimed at getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear programs are stalled over Pyongyang's anger at U.S.-imposed sanctions related to alleged counterfeiting and other wrongdoing by the North.

His schedule of talks with counterparts in Japan, South Korea and China _ all members of the six-nation group, which also includes Russia _ also come amid reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is visiting China.

Chief U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill seen holding a news conference after attending six-party nuclear talks in Beijing in this November 11, 2005 file photo.[Reuters/file]

"I must say the trip that Chairman Kim Jong Il took to China was a surprise to all of us," Hill said. "It's a complete coincidence that I'm in the area at the same time."

He did not say if the U.S. has confirmed Kim's visit.

North Korean Kim is widely believed to have gone by train Tuesday to China, his country's closest ally. But his trip has yet to be officially announced by North Korean or Chinese authorities, and his ultimate destination is unknown.

China's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that Kim planned to visit Beijing at some point _ and that the nuclear issue would be a key topic for discussion _ but did not give the exact timing.

The six-party talks, launched in 2003, resulted in a breakthrough in September as North Korea pledged to give up its nuclear program in exchange for aid and security assurances.

But follow-up negotiations have stalled. The biggest holdup is the dispute over U.S. sanctions that Pyongyang says is part of Washington's "hostile policy" aimed at toppling its government behind a smoke screen of dialogue.

"We are very much committed to the six-party process," Hill said. "We want to get moving on it."

Early this week, the North sent its highest-level signal yet that the six-party talks are unlikely to resume anytime soon, with its Foreign Ministry saying it cannot return to the negotiating table as long as Washington maintains the sanctions.

Pyongyang has said it won't return to the table unless Washington lifts sanctions, insisting the two issues are intertwined. Hill said the U.S. stance has not changed.

"I want to emphasize it's not a six-party talk matter," he said of the sanctions. "It's certainly a law enforcement issue."

Hill met earlier Wednesday with his Japanese counterpart Kenichiro Sasae in Tokyo, and planned to meet South Korean nuclear negotiator Song Min-soon in Seoul.

Song visited Beijing on Monday and Tuesday for talks with China's Wu Dawei on jump-starting the nuclear talks. Hill plans to meet Wu in Beijing.

South Korea's Song blamed mistrust between the U.S. and the North for the nuclear talks deadlock. "There is an enormous gap in trust ... We're in a situation where patience is needed," he told a forum on Wednesday, without providing specifics on his trip to Beijing.

Song also said that details of the next six-party meeting, including the timing, will be determined by the end of this month.