[USFK Forums] U.S. Negotiator Hill Discusses New N. Korea Talks With China[Bloomberg]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Friday, January 13, 2006

U.S. Negotiator Hill Discusses New North Korea Talks With China

Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Christopher Hill, the chief U.S. negotiator in talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons, visited China today to discuss holding a new round of six-nation talks on ending the country's arms program.

Hill, the U.S. assistant secretary of state, met with China's Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei in Beijing after making brief stopovers in South Korea and Japan to discuss ways to move forward on the talks.

``We remain committed to the six-party process,'' Hill said on his arrival in China. ``We always knew the way forward would be difficult. We're all anxious to set the schedule ahead.''

A fifth round of talks involving the U.S., China, South Korea, Japan and Russia ended without an agreement on Nov. 11 in Beijing as North Korea refused demands to shut a reactor used to make weapons-grade plutonium. North Korea objected to the U.S. in October freezing the assets of eight North Korean companies accused of acting as a front for selling banned missiles.

``This issue of the bank in Macau has brought complications to the six party process,'' Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan said during a regular briefing in Beijing this afternoon. He said that Macau authorities were still investigating the charges.

North Korea said through its official Korea Central News Agency on Dec. 11 that the nuclear talks may be suspended indefinitely because the U.S. refuses to end its financial sanctions on North Korea.

Kong said China's Vice Foreign Minister Wu told Hill not to lose hope in the talks and that China hoped all parties will continue to work closely together.

September Pledges

North Korea on Sept. 19 pledged to give up its nuclear weapons and rejoin international accords to halt the spread of such weapons. In return, the U.S. promised it wouldn't attack North Korea and affirmed it doesn't have any nuclear weapons in South Korea.

``We're ready to go whenever the Chinese are ready to convene the six-party talks,'' Hill said. ``We look forward to implementing the September agreement.''


Hill left Beijing today without disclosing what he discussed with Chinese officials. Nor would he comment on reports that the North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is also visiting China. China is North Korea's closest ally.

``It's a complete coincidence that I'm in the area at the same time,'' the Associated Press cited Hill as saying yesterday.

There has been no official comment from North Korea or China about Kim's visit. South Korea's Yonhap news agency said two days ago Kim arrived by train at the eastern border city of Dandong.

Kim Jong Il

Kim is said to have visited China's southern city of Shanghai yesterday, AP reported. Shanghai government spokeswoman Jiao Ying told AP she shouldn't comment on the reports.

Foreign ministry spokesman Kong also refused to comment. ``I'm sorry I really do not have any information to give you on this,'' he said during today's briefing.

Hill will also visit Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia on his trip to Asia, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told a briefing in Washington yesterday, according to a transcript.

``In Cambodia, we have some very serious human rights concerns,'' McCormack said.

The U.S. denounced an 18-month jail sentence handed down in absentia last month on Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who lives in exile in France. He was convicted for defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen and the National Assembly President Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

The sentence reflected the ``continuing deterioration of democratic principles'' in Cambodia, the State Department said.

The United Nations and human rights groups have accused the government of trying to stifle the opposition, a charge Hun Sen's government denies.

To contact the reporters for this story:
Paul Tighe in Sydney at ptighe@bloomberg.net;
Allen T. Cheng in Beijing at acheng13@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: January 12, 2006 04:44 EST