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SLUG: 2-302470 North Korea / Talks
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DATE=04/23/03 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=NORTH KOREA TALKS - S NUMBER=2-302470 BYLINE=JIM RANDLE DATELINE=BEIJING CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Diplomats from the United States, North Korea, and China have opened talks in Beijing on Pyongyang's nuclear programs. As V-O-A's Jim Randle reports from the Chinese capital, these are the highest levels meetings between U-S and North Korean officials on the issue since last October. TEXT: U-S Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly is leading the U-S delegation at the three-day talks in Beijing with Chinese and North Korea officials. Washington says its aim is to put a "verifiable and irreversible" end to North Korea's nuclear programs. The crisis began in October when Mr. Kelly confronted North Korea with evidence it was violating international agreements not to produce nuclear weapons. North Korean officials are demanding a formal guarantee that the United States will not attack North Korea - despite repeated assurances Washington is seeking a diplomatic solution. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao says China does not oppose the expansion of future talks to include Japan, South Korea, and Russia. /// LIU IN CHINESE, ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER /// But Mr. Liu says the top priority now is for the relevant parties to start talking about each other's concerns. No major breakthrough is expected this week. But there are hopes this will be the beginning of a diplomatic process to solve the dispute. (Signed) NEB/HK/JR/JO |
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