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N Korea, US agree to step up preparations for six-way atomic talks

IRNA

Tokyo, Oct 27, Itar-Tass/ACSNA/IRNA -- North Korea and the United 
States have agreed to step up preparations for resuming the six-way 
talks on North Korea`s nuclear program. 
An agreement to this effect was reached as part of the North 
Korean-US informal diplomatic consultations in New York on October 24,
Japan`s Asahi Shimbun daily quoted US-North Korean sources as saying 
on Monday. 
North Korea demands the US give explanations regarding US 
President George W. Bush`s last week remarks on the offer of security 
guarantees in return for Pyongyang dropping its nuclear program. 
The Japanese daily reported that North Korean deputy permanent 
representative to the UN Han Song-ryol said North Korea was interested
in this initiative. But earlier, it rejected the US variant and 
insisted on the signing of a non-aggression pact. 
Asahi Shimbun writes the US officials declined to disclose the 
details of the consultations, but the sides are unanimous in stepping 
up preparations for opening the second round of the six-way talks in 
Beijing in the middle of December. 
The United States has informed Japan about the informal diplomatic
contacts with North Korea on its nuclear program, Japanese Deputy 
Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuti said. 
US and North Korean representatives to the UN met in New York on 
October 24. After the meeting North Korea said it was prepared to 
agree on the US offer of security guarantees in return for Pyongyang 
dropping its atomic weapons program. 
Earlier, North Korea came against this variant saying it was ready
to consider the US remarks on the written assurances of 
non-aggression. However, according to certain sources, in New York 
North Korea said it was ready to consider US President George W. 
Bush`s offer of security guarantees within the six-way talks that also
involve China, Russia, Japan and South Korea. 
China hosted an inconclusive first round of talks in Beijing in 
August. 
On Saturday, North Korea said it was prepared to consider a US 
offer of security guarantees in return for Pyongyang dropping its 
nuclear program. North Korea`s position opens up the way for a new 
round of the six-way talks. 
North Korea has agreed to show US legislators how it makes 
weapons-grade plutonium, a key ingredient in the production of nuclear
bombs. 
But the US congressional delegation called off its trip to North 
Korea at the last minute, citing the opposition from the White House, 
North Korea`s official KCNA news agency reported. 
KCNA said the US delegation had been scheduled to visit the 
Yongbyon nuclear complex where the North reprocesses fuel rods. The 
North had `prepared an itinerary in such a way as to let the 
delegation visit the nuclear facility in Yongbyon, as desired by the 
delegation so that it might watch on the spot the completed 
reprocessing and the switchover made in the use of plutonium obtained 
in its course`, KCNA said. 
No foreigners are known to have visited the top-secret complex 
since North Korea expelled UN nuclear monitors at the end of last 
year. 
According to local observers, North Korea`s progress in the 
nuclear field may make Washington to change its strategy to Pyongyang 
that had been worked out with Japan and South Korea. 
Meanwhile, a White House official made it clear that the change in
the date of the visit was linked to diplomatic consultations on the 
resumption of the six-way talks with Pyongyang. The US is continuing 
discussions with South Korea, Japan, China and Russia in order to 
convince North Korea to drop its nuclear program in exchange for the 
US offer of security guarantees. 
/AH/210 
End