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N Korea nuclear envoy in Beijing US upbeat ahead of N Korea talks
(about 10 hours later)
North Korea's chief nuclear negotiator has arrived in Beijing for six-nation talks focusing on how to implement the second phase of a key disarmament deal. US nuclear envoy Christopher Hill has expressed optimism after meeting his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye-gwan.
Kim Kye-gwan said talks would address "obligations and actions" to be taken now that Pyongyang has shut down its main reactor at Yongbyon. He said both sides were "in the same ballpark" and held good discussions.
The shutdown was the first step in a deal under which Pyongyang will end its nuclear programme in return for aid. The meeting took place in Beijing on the eve of another round of six-nation talks, aimed at getting Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons programme.
Step two requires Pyongyang to disclose and disable all its nuclear facilities. North Korea shut down its main nuclear reactor on Saturday. Mr Hill said his talks with Mr Kim focused on setting a timetable for the next stage.
"The first phase has been accomplished, so the talks will focus on the sequence of the obligations and actions to be taken by the concerned parties in the second phase," Xinhua news agency quoted Mr Kim as saying as he left Pyongyang. Such a phase would involve the listing of all of North Korea's nuclear facilities and eventually disabling the Yongbyon reactor completely.
"My idea is that we try to wrap this up" by the end of the year, he told reporters after meeting Mr Kim.
It is a little like one of those video games - every level becomes more difficult than the previous level Christopher Hill,US nuclear envoyIt is a little like one of those video games - every level becomes more difficult than the previous level Christopher Hill,US nuclear envoy
The six-nation talks - which involve the US, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea as well as North Korea - are set to begin on Wednesday in the Chinese capital. Before leaving for Beijing, Mr Kim said the six-party talks would address "obligations and actions" to be taken by all sides now that Pyongyang has shut down its reactor at Yongbyon.
Ahead of the talks, Mr Kim met one-to-one with his US counterpart, Christopher Hill. The shutdown was the first step in a deal agreed in February, under which Pyongyang agreed to end its nuclear programme in return for aid.
"We just had a nice lunch, not a lot of specific discussions," the Associated Press news agency quoted Mr Hill as saying outside a Beijing restaurant. "The atmosphere was very businesslike."
'More difficult''More difficult'
On Monday, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei confirmed that a 10-man team of monitors at Yongbyon had verified the shutdown of the plutonium-making reactor.On Monday, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei confirmed that a 10-man team of monitors at Yongbyon had verified the shutdown of the plutonium-making reactor.
N KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL N Korea to "shut down and seal" Yongbyon reactor, then disable all nuclear facilitiesIn return, will be given 1m tons of heavy fuel oilN Korea to invite IAEA back to monitor dealUnder earlier 2005 deal, N Korea agreed to end nuclear programme and return to non-proliferation treatyN Korea's demand for light water reactor to be discussed at "appropriate time" Q&A: N Korea stand-off Timeline: Nuclear crisis
He said it was "a good step in the right direction", but warned that there was still a long way to go.He said it was "a good step in the right direction", but warned that there was still a long way to go.
Under the deal reached in February 2007, North Korea is to receive 50,000 tons of energy aid in return for shutting Yongbyon down. Two shipments of aid have already been sent. N KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL N Korea to "shut down and seal" Yongbyon reactor, then disable all nuclear facilitiesIn return, will be given 1m tons of heavy fuel oilN Korea to invite IAEA back to monitor dealUnder earlier 2005 deal, N Korea agreed to end nuclear programme and return to non-proliferation treatyN Korea's demand for light water reactor to be discussed at "appropriate time" class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2340405.stm">Q&A: N Korea stand-off class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2604437.stm">Timeline: Nuclear crisis
Under the February deal, North Korea is to receive 50,000 tons of energy aid in return for shutting Yongbyon down. Two shipments of aid have already been sent.
North Korea will then receive a further 950,000 tons of aid if it disables all its nuclear facilities.North Korea will then receive a further 950,000 tons of aid if it disables all its nuclear facilities.
But experts say that persuading North Korea to come clean about all of its nuclear activities and agree to their being disabled is likely to be a far more complicated process.But experts say that persuading North Korea to come clean about all of its nuclear activities and agree to their being disabled is likely to be a far more complicated process.
"I think you have to look at each stage as more difficult than the previous stage," Mr Hill said on Monday in the South Korean capital, Seoul."I think you have to look at each stage as more difficult than the previous stage," Mr Hill said on Monday in the South Korean capital, Seoul.
"It is a little like one of those video games - every level becomes more difficult than the previous level.""It is a little like one of those video games - every level becomes more difficult than the previous level."
North Korea - which carried out its first nuclear test in October 2006 - continues to deny US allegations that it has a secret uranium enrichment programme.North Korea - which carried out its first nuclear test in October 2006 - continues to deny US allegations that it has a secret uranium enrichment programme.