US nuclear envoy meets S. Korean counterpart on DPRK nuclear issue

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Source: CCTV.com | 10-01-2008 11:11

Chief US nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill has met his South Korean counterpart Kim Sook, to discuss persuading the DPRK to abide by a nuclear disarmament-for-aid pact.

Top U.S. nuclear envoy Christopher Hill (R) speaks to  the media after a meeting with his South Korean counterpart  Kim Sook (L) at a hotel in Seoul September 30, 2008. (Jo Yong-Hak/Reuters)

Hill was cautious about the prospects for success as he prepared for a trip on Wednesday to Pyongyang to try to salvage the 2007 nuclear deal. After meeting with Kim, Hill says negotiations are in a very tough phase.

Since mid-August, Pyongyang has taken steps to restore the Yongbyon nuclear facility. The DPRK is angry about Washington's refusal to remove the country from the US terrorism blacklist as promised.

The US says the DPRK should first verify its account of past nuclear activities, a demand Pyongyang has rejected as an attempt to unilaterally disarm it. Hill said his trip will focus on settling the verification row.

Editor:Du Xiaodan