ID :
35232
Fri, 12/12/2008 - 12:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/35232
The shortlink copeid
6-way delegates fall short of N. Korea nuke verification protocol
BEIJING, Dec. 11 Kyodo - Negotiators from six countries fell short of their goal to draw up a document stipulating ways to verify North Korea's nuclear programs after four days of talks in Beijing on Thursday, with envoys saying there were still significant gaps to be bridged.
No date was set for a next meeting of the two Koreas, the United States, China,
Japan and Russia, although a chairman's statement was issued saying that the
multilateral negotiations will be held ''at an early date.''
''We worked hard on verification, but ultimately, we were not able to get an
agreed verification protocol,'' top U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill
told reporters at Beijing's international airport shortly before his departure.
In their talks from Monday, envoys struggled to document methods for checking
nuclear information submitted by North Korea under the terms of a
denuclearization-for-aid deal.
Japan's chief delegate Akitaka Saiki also painted a grim picture, separately
telling reporters, ''There was little in terms of substantial progress.''
A major difference over the protocol had remained over whether sampling and
other scientific methods will be stipulated in the document.
While countries such as the United States, Japan and South Korea urged for the
stipulation, North Korea refused to do so in talks the previous day.
Taking liquid and swipe samples and analyzing them at international
laboratories are considered to be an essential part of verifying nuclear
programs.
While envoys did not say what the specific sticking points were, Saiki
indicated that it also included other areas linked to verification.
''There was a major gap between the positions of North Korea and the other
countries on ways to carry out verification and what should be the subject of
verification,'' said the head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and
Oceanian Affairs Bureau.
''It was difficult to bridge that gap,'' he said.
While the chairman's statement said parties ''evaluated the progress made
towards agreement on terms for verification,'' Saiki called the statement
itself ''a product of compromise.''
''I don't think anyone thinks this is a satisfactory content,'' he added.
The just-ended round of talks comes shortly before U.S. President George W.
Bush leaves office, and many observers had wondered ahead of the meeting
whether North Korea would be willing to deal before President-elect Barack
Obama takes over in January.
Hill said a date for the next talks has not been set.
''I'm sure we could have. But we did not try to set one,'' Hill said when asked
about the schedule for the next session. ''I think the issue is, we need to
overcome some of the differences that stand between us and a finished
protocol,'' he said.
Saiki also said, ''Although we are leaving with an understanding that we will
try to meet at the earliest timing, it is difficult to have a clear outlook on
when the talks will be held.''
According to South Korea's envoy Kim Sook, North Korea rejected sampling as a
verification method in Wednesday's talks, saying it infringes on its
sovereignty at a time when there is no trust between North Korea and the United
States.
At the same time, North Korea said the refusal is not permanent but rather
something it considers in its interest under the current situation, according
to Kim.
The chairman's statement issued Thursday, meanwhile, said the disablement of
North Korea's key nuclear complex and the delivery of energy aid promised in
return will be carried out ''in parallel.''
Under the key denuclearization-for-aid deal reached last year, North Korea is
currently disabling facilities at the Yongbyon complex, which are capable of
producing weapons-grade plutonium.
In exchange for the disablement of the complex and submitting a list of its
nuclear programs, North Korea has been promised energy aid equivalent to a
total of 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil, the delivery of which has yet to be
completed.
North Korea has slowed the pace of disablement work, complaining about the
delay in the delivery of aid.
The latest session of six-party talks was initially scheduled to end Wednesday
but was extended for a day after envoys failed to make progress.
No date was set for a next meeting of the two Koreas, the United States, China,
Japan and Russia, although a chairman's statement was issued saying that the
multilateral negotiations will be held ''at an early date.''
''We worked hard on verification, but ultimately, we were not able to get an
agreed verification protocol,'' top U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill
told reporters at Beijing's international airport shortly before his departure.
In their talks from Monday, envoys struggled to document methods for checking
nuclear information submitted by North Korea under the terms of a
denuclearization-for-aid deal.
Japan's chief delegate Akitaka Saiki also painted a grim picture, separately
telling reporters, ''There was little in terms of substantial progress.''
A major difference over the protocol had remained over whether sampling and
other scientific methods will be stipulated in the document.
While countries such as the United States, Japan and South Korea urged for the
stipulation, North Korea refused to do so in talks the previous day.
Taking liquid and swipe samples and analyzing them at international
laboratories are considered to be an essential part of verifying nuclear
programs.
While envoys did not say what the specific sticking points were, Saiki
indicated that it also included other areas linked to verification.
''There was a major gap between the positions of North Korea and the other
countries on ways to carry out verification and what should be the subject of
verification,'' said the head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and
Oceanian Affairs Bureau.
''It was difficult to bridge that gap,'' he said.
While the chairman's statement said parties ''evaluated the progress made
towards agreement on terms for verification,'' Saiki called the statement
itself ''a product of compromise.''
''I don't think anyone thinks this is a satisfactory content,'' he added.
The just-ended round of talks comes shortly before U.S. President George W.
Bush leaves office, and many observers had wondered ahead of the meeting
whether North Korea would be willing to deal before President-elect Barack
Obama takes over in January.
Hill said a date for the next talks has not been set.
''I'm sure we could have. But we did not try to set one,'' Hill said when asked
about the schedule for the next session. ''I think the issue is, we need to
overcome some of the differences that stand between us and a finished
protocol,'' he said.
Saiki also said, ''Although we are leaving with an understanding that we will
try to meet at the earliest timing, it is difficult to have a clear outlook on
when the talks will be held.''
According to South Korea's envoy Kim Sook, North Korea rejected sampling as a
verification method in Wednesday's talks, saying it infringes on its
sovereignty at a time when there is no trust between North Korea and the United
States.
At the same time, North Korea said the refusal is not permanent but rather
something it considers in its interest under the current situation, according
to Kim.
The chairman's statement issued Thursday, meanwhile, said the disablement of
North Korea's key nuclear complex and the delivery of energy aid promised in
return will be carried out ''in parallel.''
Under the key denuclearization-for-aid deal reached last year, North Korea is
currently disabling facilities at the Yongbyon complex, which are capable of
producing weapons-grade plutonium.
In exchange for the disablement of the complex and submitting a list of its
nuclear programs, North Korea has been promised energy aid equivalent to a
total of 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil, the delivery of which has yet to be
completed.
North Korea has slowed the pace of disablement work, complaining about the
delay in the delivery of aid.
The latest session of six-party talks was initially scheduled to end Wednesday
but was extended for a day after envoys failed to make progress.
