Second day of security talks begin in China
The second day of talks, aimed at overcoming the dangerous 10-month stand-off between North Korea and the US over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons ambitions, has begun in Beijing, China.
In October last year, the US announced that North Korea had admitted to a secret nuclear arms programme.
North Korea has since reactivated its Yongbyon nuclear plant, expelled UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors and effectively ended its support for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
North Korea, alongside Iraq and Iran, sits on US President Bush’s “axis of evil.”
The six-way diplomatic effort began on Wednesday with little indication that the reclusive communist state would end its plans to arm itself with nuclear weapons.
The second day of the Beijing initiative is held at the Diaoyutai State Guest House.
Talks began at 10:00 local time (0200 GMT).
The meeting brings together the two Koreas, the US, Russia, Japan and China.
It was reported yesterday that North Korea and the US held unofficial talks on the sidelines.
But the US has downplayed suggestions it will hold formal bilateral meetings with North Korea.
US officials said the first day of talks signified the “beginning of a process.”
Pyongyang’s insists diplomacy will make little hedge way until the US agrees to a non-aggression pact.
But US representatives will hold back on a written guarantee until Pyongyang “completely, verifiably and irreversibly'” abandons its nuclear weapons programme.
Li Zhaoxing, China’s foreign minister, said the meeting had been very successful.
Japan on Wednesday called on Pyongyang to release Japanese nationals allegedly “abducted” by its close neighbour.
