北朝鮮めぐる6ヵ国協議始まる | 英語のニュース

World News

Six-way talks on North Korea begin

BEIJING (AP) - North Korea, the United States, Japan and three other countries convened delicate talks Feb. 25 to resolve a persistent dispute over Pyongyang's nuclear program.

Diplomats from all sides expressed expectations of progress in the 15-month-old stalemate, with Pyongyang's top delegate calling the talks "a very good opportunity" for progress.

The talks opened hours after North Korea issued a demand for compensation before beginning any freeze of its nuclear program - a statement aimed at the United States, which demands an immediate shutdown of the activities.

The compensation demand was a common maneuver for the North, which often announces hardline positions and sometimes uses threats to pressure negotiating partners into making concessions.

The communist nation has staked out such a position before, proposing in December that it freeze its nuclear activities in return for economic aid and other U.S. concessions. But Washington demanded that Pyongyang start to dismantle its nuclear programs first.

Shukan ST: March 5, 2004

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World News Six-way talks on North Korea begin BEIJING (AP) - North Korea, the United States, Japan and three other countries convened delicate talks Feb. 25 to resolve a persistent dispute over Pyongyang's nuclear program. Diplomats from all sides expressed expectations of progress in the 15-month-old stalemate, with Pyongyang's top delegate calling the talks "a very good opportunity" for progress. The talks opened hours after North Korea issued a demand for compensation before beginning any freeze of its nuclear program - a statement aimed at the United States, which demands an immediate shutdown of the activities. The compensation demand was a common maneuver for the North, which often announces hardline positions and sometimes uses threats to pressure negotiating partners into making concessions. The communist nation has staked out such a position before, proposing in December that it freeze its nuclear activities in return for economic aid and other U.S. concessions. But Washington demanded that Pyongyang start to dismantle its nuclear programs first. Shukan ST: March 5, 2004 (C) All rights reserved