CHINA: Japan envoy to nuclear talks arrives in Beijing to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons programme
Record ID:
464818
CHINA: Japan envoy to nuclear talks arrives in Beijing to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons programme
- Title: CHINA: Japan envoy to nuclear talks arrives in Beijing to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons programme
- Date: 24th January 2007
- Summary: JAPANESE DELEGATION HEAD KENICHIRO SASAE WALKING INTO THE HOTEL (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese) JAPANESE DELEGATION HEAD KENICHIRO SASAE, SAYING: "It's a big progress that envoys at the six party talks are now able to discuss substantial issues." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese) JAPANESE DELEGATION HEAD KENICHIRO SASAE, SAYING: "Although this is a place to discuss mainly North Korea's nuclear issues, one cannot avoid discussing the U.S.-North Korea and Japan-North Korea bilateral relationships for the sake of the region's stability. And to discuss the Japan-North relationship, North Korea's kidnapping of Japanese nationals is a key issue. I believe North Korea is fully aware of this." JAPANESE DELEGATION HEAD KENICHIRO SASAE LEAVING EXTERIOR OF HOTEL
- Embargoed: 8th February 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Reuters ID: LVA2U81TP97S1R8DD0L59GF6C3DY
- Story Text: Beijing sees continuous diplomatic activity as nuclear negotiators from Japan arrive for meetings with Chinese officials. Japan's envoy to six-party talks Kenichiro Sasae arrived in Beijing on Wednesday (January 24) for talks with Chinese officials. Sasae is due to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Wu Dawei, later Wednesday.
The Chinese government could announce a date soon for a resumption of the six-party negotiations that broke off in December, according to Washington's envoy Christopher Hill.
China hosts the six-party talks, which also group the two Koreas, the United States, Japan and Russia.
They began in 2003 with the aim of persuading impoverished Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear arms development.
Japan's top negotiator told the reporters at the hotel he was staying at that "substantial issues," would be now discussed.
"It's a big progress that envoys at the six party talks are now able to discuss substantial issues," Japanese delegation head Kenichiro Sasae said.
The urgency of making headway in the six-party talks has grown since the reclusive communist state defied international warnings last October and conducted its first nuclear test, triggering UN sanctions.
Sasae added that bilateral relationships between the U.S.-Japan and North Korea cannot be avoided in this meeting.
"Although this is a place to discuss mainly North korea's nuclear issues, one cannot avoid discussing the U.S.-North Korea and Japan-North Korea bilateral relationships for the sake of the region's stability. And to discuss the Japan-North relationship, North Korea's kidnapping of Japanese nationals is a key issue. I believe North Korea is fully aware of this," Japan's envoy, Kenichiro Sasae, said.
The last session of the talks in December appeared to be making progress on how to implement a September 2005 statement promising North Korea economic and political assurances in return for nuclear disarmament.
But those prospects unravelled, with Hill blaming the North Korean negotiators' insistent focus on U.S. financial restrictions and their lack of authority to negotiate on the nuclear deal. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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