N.Korea: We won't return to talks under duress
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-08 16:11

NO ONE WANTS TO BREAK UP TALKS

Ri's visit had raised hopes among some South Korean officials and analysts that the North may be poised to return to the six-party talks aimed at ending its nuclear programmes.

They did not expect a breakthrough in New York but believed the meeting could pave the way for a face-saving gesture that would hasten a resumption of the nuclear discussions. The last round of talks was held in November 2005.

"Nobody will try to be the one to break up the talks, not the North and not the United States," said Paik Hak-soon, who heads North Korea studies at Sejong Institute south of Seoul.

Ri said the meeting was positive because "the two sides could find out about the other's position", Yonhap said.

The U.S. State Department said the atmosphere of the New York talks was "constructive and business-like".

"The U.S. side reiterated its commitment to the six-party talks," said spokeswoman Darla Jordan, adding Washington was committed to resuming the talks without preconditions.

Ri said North Korea presented U.S. officials with Pyongyang's plans to solve the problem, but did not elaborate.

Participants in a discussion Ri had with former U.S. officials and experts on Monday said Pyongyang wanted normalised U.S.-North Korean financial transactions so North Koreans could use credit cards and participate in the banking system.

Washington, Seoul and others have said the crackdown is separate from the nuclear talks and urged Pyongyang to return to the table quickly. North Korea has denied the U.S. charges. It says the crackdown is a U.S. attempt to topple its leaders.

The U.S. Treasury said officials had briefed North Korean representatives on the U.S. designation last year of Banco Delta Asia on charges the Macau-based bank laundered money and backed other illegal activities by North Korean firms.