Meanwhile, a Chinese expert says whether the six-party talks will resume next month depends on whether the US and North Korea can reach further compromises at this gathering in Beijing.
Xu Weiyi reports.
 The six-party talks have stalled since last November when North Korea refused to attend more talks because of US financial sanctions.
Top US negotiator Christopher Hill said the US hopes to restart talks before mid-December.
Professor Li Dunqiu of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences says the six parties except Russia are now making final preparations for the upcoming talks in Beijing. They are discussing which topics the six-party talks will include if they are resumed next month.
"The topics should be different from those of the last round since the situation has changed over the past year, especially after North Korea conducted a nuclear test on October 9th. Meanwhile, the six-party talks will also cover a new subject: financial sanctions which the US launched against North Korea last year."
The five parties are holding a series of bilateral meetings. Professor Li says the meeting between the US and North Korea delegations, if held, will be decisive.
North Korea claimed before it would not return to the six-party talks unless the US lifts its sanctions. On the other hand, the US insisted nuclear talks and financial sanctions are two separate entities.
After the North Korea nuclear test and especially the US mid-term elections, the US eased its stance, as did North Korea.
Nevertheless, Professor Li says the biggest divergence between the US and North Korea is still on financial sanctions. Whether the two sides will reach an agreement on this issue will decide whether next six-party talks will open as planned.
"The US made a compromise and agreed to discuss financial sanctions within the framework of the six-party talks. But Hill said the US will not guarantee it will lift its sanctions against North Korea in the end. Meanwhile, the position of North Korea is it can come back the negotiation table, but the US should promise to lift its financial sanctions."
Professor Li Dunqiu concludes if the two sides can reach an agreement on this issue, the six-party talks will very likely resume next month. If not, the talks could possibly be further delayed.
Xu Weiyi, CRI News.
|
Director: Liu Chi