Koreas fail to agree on nuclear issue
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South Korea failed to extract a North Korean commitment to ending its nuclear programs at Cabinet-level talks April 30, but both sides agreed to a wide range of cooperation projects.
The talks in Pyongyang ended with a vague statement by North Korea that it would cooperate in resolving the six-month-old nuclear crisis, but it fell short of South Korea's demand that the North make an explicit reference to ending its nuclear ambitions.
The meeting between North and South Korea, the first since South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun took office in February, was troubled from the beginning, with Pyongyang insisting Seoul had no part to play in the nuclear crisis.
North Korea had also refused to clarify its alleged admission of having atomic bombs at recent talks in Beijing with the United States, the first between U.S. and North Korean officials since the nuclear crisis started six months ago.
Pyongyang has since, however, strongly implied that it has nuclear weapons in statements made April 30.
南北会談、核問題で合意に達せず
韓国と北朝鮮の第10回南北閣僚級会談で韓国側は、北朝鮮の核保有問題について合意に達せず終った。
Shukan ST: May 9, 2003
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