Talks on ending North Korea's nuclear
programs are to resume this week in Beijing, after being on hold since last
year. Negotiations are expected to focus on efforts to verify the dismantling of
North Korea's declared nuclear facilities and Pyongyang's demands for aid.
Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.
China's Foreign Ministry says negotiators from six nations will
meet Thursday to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.
Negotiations have been on hold for the past nine months, while
North Korea was preparing a declaration of its nuclear facilities. It submitted
the declaration last month.
In return, the United States
is removing North Korea from a list of states that sponsor terrorism and is
lifting some sanctions against the reclusive nation.
A spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry,
Qin Gang, said Tuesday the talks have been scheduled for three days, but could
go longer if more progress is made.
He says they hope the delegations achieve progress and the
talks will be beneficial to pushing forward to the next stage of
negotiations.
North Korea agreed to give up
its nuclear ambitions, in return for aid, security guarantees and diplomatic
incentives.
In a dramatic gesture,
Pyongyang invited the international media to cover its June destruction of a
cooling tower at its Yongbyon nuclear complex.
This week's talks, however, are likely to face problems.
Washington says Pyongyang has several nuclear bombs and a secret uranium
enrichment program, but North Korea did not include either in its declaration.
Pyongyang is demanding it receive promised aid and diplomatic
incentives before it dismantles any more facilities.
The other parties to the six-nation talks are China, South
Korea, Russia, and Japan.
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