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US and N Korea discuss sanctions | US and N Korea discuss sanctions |
(30 minutes later) | |
US and North Korean officials have met to discuss US financial sanctions imposed against Pyongyang. | US and North Korean officials have met to discuss US financial sanctions imposed against Pyongyang. |
The meeting was held on the sidelines of six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear programme, in Beijing. | The meeting was held on the sidelines of six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear programme, in Beijing. |
Pyongyang walked out of the talks 13 months ago in protest at the sanctions, and has demanded they be lifted if progress is to be made on negotiations. | Pyongyang walked out of the talks 13 months ago in protest at the sanctions, and has demanded they be lifted if progress is to be made on negotiations. |
The US imposed the restrictions after accusing Pyongyang of involvement in money-laundering and counterfeiting. | |
Chief US negotiator Christopher Hill said there had been no progress on the first day of talks on Monday. | Chief US negotiator Christopher Hill said there had been no progress on the first day of talks on Monday. |
And he has warned that Washington's patience with North Korea is running out. | And he has warned that Washington's patience with North Korea is running out. |
North Korea on Monday said it would not consider halting its nuclear programme unless both the US financial restrictions and later UN sanctions - imposed after its nuclear test in October - were lifted. | |
N KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closely Low hopes for talks Text of September 2005 deal China press optimistic | N KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closely Low hopes for talks Text of September 2005 deal China press optimistic |
Envoy Kim Kye-gwan said Pyongyang was unconcerned that other countries did not accept its newly demonstrated nuclear status. | Envoy Kim Kye-gwan said Pyongyang was unconcerned that other countries did not accept its newly demonstrated nuclear status. |
But Mr Hill, the US assistant secretary of state, said the impoverished state had much to lose if the talks failed. | But Mr Hill, the US assistant secretary of state, said the impoverished state had much to lose if the talks failed. |
"They should come to it in a mood of trying to reach a deal. North Korea needs schools, health stations, roads, airports. They need a lot of things. | "They should come to it in a mood of trying to reach a deal. North Korea needs schools, health stations, roads, airports. They need a lot of things. |
"They need food, electricity. They don't need nuclear weapons," he said, suggesting the North may alter its demands in coming days, when negotiators break into smaller meetings. | "They need food, electricity. They don't need nuclear weapons," he said, suggesting the North may alter its demands in coming days, when negotiators break into smaller meetings. |
North Korea walked out of the last round of talks in November 2005 in protest at the US' decision to blacklist a Macau-based bank, which held $24m of the regime's money. The US accused Pyongyang of involvement in the counterfeiting of US dollars. | |
Two months earlier, in September 2005, Pyongyang had agreed to abandon its nuclear programme in return for US security guarantees and aid in a deal that was hailed as historic at the time. | Two months earlier, in September 2005, Pyongyang had agreed to abandon its nuclear programme in return for US security guarantees and aid in a deal that was hailed as historic at the time. |
North Korea agreed to return to the talks - with the US, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea - after carrying out its nuclear test on 9 October. | North Korea agreed to return to the talks - with the US, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea - after carrying out its nuclear test on 9 October. |
The test was followed by international condemnation and sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council. | The test was followed by international condemnation and sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council. |