Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=8/29/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=KOREA TALKS (S-2nd UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-306966

BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Talks on the North Korean nuclear crisis have ended in Beijing, with the participants agreeing to meet again. As V-O-A's Luis Ramirez reports from Beijing, Chinese negotiators say the six countries at the talks found some common ground.

TEXT: Although no clear progress was made on ending the dispute over North Korea's nuclear ambitions, the head of China's delegation said after the talks that all sides had agreed on a few points.

/// WANG ACT IN CHINESE, EST & FADE ///

Deputy Foreign Minister Wang Yi says the participants agreed that the Korean Peninsula should be nuclear-free, and that North Korea's security concerns should be considered.

All parties agreed to meet again, although no date or location has been set.

The three-day talks brought together China, Japan, North and South Korea, Russia and the United States. They discussed demands by the United States and others that North Korea dismantle its nuclear program, which violates international accords.

North Korea says it is willing to give up its nuclear program, if the United States signs a non-aggression pact. It also demanded guarantees for economic cooperation from Japan and South Korea. Washington has ruled out a non-aggression agreement. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/LR/KPD/TW