Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=11-7-03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=Powell-China-Korea (S-Only)

NUMBER=2-309578

BYLINE=David Gollust

DATELINE=State Department

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi told U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell Friday that preparations have begun for a new set of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program. No date for the talks was announced but a Powell spokesman said the Secretary is "optimistic" about prospects for further negotiations. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

TEXT: Mr. Wang has been a key figure in Chinese contacts with Pyongyang aimed at arranging a new set of six-party talks following the inconclusive, initial round in Beijing last August. He gave reporters no details of the planning following a 45-minute session with Mr. Powell, though State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the meeting left Mr. Powell optimistic that another round can be held:

///Boucher actually///

Having discussed this fairly extensively with Vice Foreign Minister Wang, the Secretary is encouraged at the prospect of new talks, encouraged at the possibilities of pursuing this route to reach a peaceful resolution of the problems created by North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.

///end act///

Mr. Boucher cautioned that there had been "no particular breakthrough" on the substance of the talks and that the Secretary and Mr. Wang did not get into detail about multi-lateral security assurances the United States has proposed to help persuade North Korea to end its nuclear weapons efforts.

A senior diplomat here said U-S officials believe the next round can be held before the end of the year. (Signed)

NEB/DAG/PT