North Korean nuke talks continue without sign of compromise

Beijing, Feb. 27: The six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue continued for the third day here on Friday without any visible sign of a compromise between Washington and Pyongyang even as the duration of the parleys was extended by at least a day till February 28.

While the third plenary session of the second round of six-party talks ended this morning, the delegation heads of the six sides were holding small group meetings, Japanese embassy sources said.

The envoys were supposed to discuss North Korea’s proposal to freeze its nuclear weapons programme and a South Korean, Chinese and Russian-backed plan to offer energy aid in exchange.

The envoys were working on a joint statement, the establishment of a working group and when next to meet, reports said.

China’s official Xinhua news agency reported that this round of talks would be extended at least by one day till February 28. The first round of the six-party talks, also hosted by China lasted for three days from August 27 to 29.

It also quoted the spokeswoman of the US embassy to China as saying that the American delegation will stay on until the talks end. The six-party talks involve China, North Korea, the US, South Korea, Russia and Japan.

Meanwhile, reports said that the US was unwilling to relent from its stance that North Korea must agree to a complete, irreversible and verifiable dismantlement of its nuclear weapons programmes, including both plutonium and uranium programmes. (PTI)