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| 'Progress' in N Korea-US talks | 'Progress' in N Korea-US talks |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| North Korea says there has been progress in talks with the US over its nuclear weapons programme. | North Korea says there has been progress in talks with the US over its nuclear weapons programme. |
| Agreements were reached between the two sides at a meeting in Berlin this week, a foreign ministry spokesman said. | Agreements were reached between the two sides at a meeting in Berlin this week, a foreign ministry spokesman said. |
| The BBC correspondent in Seoul, Charles Scanlon, says the North's statement is unusually positive. | The BBC correspondent in Seoul, Charles Scanlon, says the North's statement is unusually positive. |
| US negotiator Christopher Hill has just arrived in South Korea to prepare for a new round of six-party talks on the North's nuclear ambitions. | US negotiator Christopher Hill has just arrived in South Korea to prepare for a new round of six-party talks on the North's nuclear ambitions. |
| The talks resumed in December last year after a break of more than a year. | The talks resumed in December last year after a break of more than a year. |
| 'Direct dialogue' | 'Direct dialogue' |
| Mr Hill and his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye-gwan ended three days of unprecedented talks on Thursday. | Mr Hill and his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye-gwan ended three days of unprecedented talks on Thursday. |
| The Berlin meeting took place "in a positive and sincere atmosphere, and a certain agreement was reached there," a spokesman for the North was quoted as telling state news agency KCNA. | The Berlin meeting took place "in a positive and sincere atmosphere, and a certain agreement was reached there," a spokesman for the North was quoted as telling state news agency KCNA. |
| 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 | 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 |
| Our correspondent says the North is clearly encouraged by signs of growing flexibility in Washington's position, just four months after it tested its first nuclear device. | Our correspondent says the North is clearly encouraged by signs of growing flexibility in Washington's position, just four months after it tested its first nuclear device. |
| For years the US rejected demands for direct bilateral talks, but this week Mr Hill was allowed by his government to sit down for discussions with Mr Kim. | For years the US rejected demands for direct bilateral talks, but this week Mr Hill was allowed by his government to sit down for discussions with Mr Kim. |
| But while Pyongyang may see the talks as "direct dialogue held by the [North] and the US". Washington sees the situation rather differently. | But while Pyongyang may see the talks as "direct dialogue held by the [North] and the US". Washington sees the situation rather differently. |
| "This is not an instance of bilateral negotiations," White House spokesman Tony Snow told Reuters news agency. | "This is not an instance of bilateral negotiations," White House spokesman Tony Snow told Reuters news agency. |
| "What you had ...this week in Berlin were talks with Chris Hill and a North Korean representative as preparations for the six-party talks." | "What you had ...this week in Berlin were talks with Chris Hill and a North Korean representative as preparations for the six-party talks." |
| Sanctions | Sanctions |
| According to our correspondent, there are also hints that Washington might be easing its position on the financial sanctions it imposed in 2005. | According to our correspondent, there are also hints that Washington might be easing its position on the financial sanctions it imposed in 2005. |
| These sanctions prompted the North to walk away from the negotiations for more than a year. | These sanctions prompted the North to walk away from the negotiations for more than a year. |
| Talks in December made no real breakthrough | |
| The US is now holding direct talks with the North on the issue, when it previously said its drive to isolate the North's financial system was a question of law enforcement and was non-negotiable. | The US is now holding direct talks with the North on the issue, when it previously said its drive to isolate the North's financial system was a question of law enforcement and was non-negotiable. |
| Mr Hill is now back in East Asia to prepare the ground for another round of six-party talks, which bring together North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the US, and are aimed at persuading Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear ambitions. | Mr Hill is now back in East Asia to prepare the ground for another round of six-party talks, which bring together North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the US, and are aimed at persuading Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear ambitions. |
| The US envoy has just arrived in Seoul, and will also travel to Beijing and Tokyo before the main meeting takes place. | The US envoy has just arrived in Seoul, and will also travel to Beijing and Tokyo before the main meeting takes place. |
| There will be relief in the region at signs of growing US willingness to address North Korea's concerns, our correspondent says. | There will be relief in the region at signs of growing US willingness to address North Korea's concerns, our correspondent says. |
| The last round of six-party talks in December ended inconclusively. | The last round of six-party talks in December ended inconclusively. |