2nd phase of 5th round of 6-party talks resumed

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-18-2006 14:29

After a break of more than a year, the second phase of the 5th round of six-party talks has kicked off in Beijing. Negotiators from 6 nations are sitting down again to try to find a way to implement the only agreement ever reached at the previous round of talks.

Another round of friendly hand shakes, before another round of tough talks.

Members of the six delegations, namely, China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan and Russia, attend the opening ceremony of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue opened at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Dec. 18, 2006. (Xinhua Photo/Wang Jianhua)

The chief negotiators from China, the US, the DPRK, South Korea, Russia, and Japan have convened in Beijing after a break of more than a year. They are returning to tough talks to find a resolution to the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

Going back to talks is progress, but expectations of a major breakthrough are not high. All the delegates acknowledged that these talks will be more complex than ever.

Bilateral meetings were held on the eve of resuming talks, with participants expressing their goals and attitudes towards this round of talks.

The US wants measurable progress with the DPRK implementing the September 2005 statement. According to that agreement Pyongyang would give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for aid and security guarantees.

But the DPRK demands that guarantees must come before any action.

Kim Kye-Gwan, DPRK nuclear envoy, said: "The reason why there is friction between the DPRK and the US is not because we made nuclear weapons, but because of the US policy."

Such disagreements between the two sides have cast a cloud over the talks. But all the bargainers know, this opportunity is too precious to let go.

The ROK chief negotiator Chun Yung-Woo said, "Whether to catch this chance or lose totally depends on the participating nation's political will."

There is still no official end date to the talks yet. Although more rounds of talks are expected to solve the crisis all six nations are not likely to draw the curtain without real progress.

Editor:Du Xiaodan