DPRK newspaper says Japan unqualified to take part in 6-party talks

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-12-2006 08:31

The six-party nuclear talks will restart on December 18th in Beijing. The confirmation came from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. This'll be the first resumption since the Democratic People's Republic of Korea carried out an underground nuclear test in October.

The US State Department spokeswoman Joanne Moore said the American delegation headed by US Assistant Secretary of State, Christopher Hill will participate in what will be the second phase of the Fifth Round of the talks on the December 18th. Moore said that the US expected that the parties concerned would discuss ways to implement the September 2005 joint statement.

The South Korean government hailed the move for the resumption of the talks and highly commended the efforts by the relevant parties.

Choo Kyu-Ho, spokesman South Korean Foreign Ministry, said, "The government expects substantial progress will be made at this round of talks for a resolution of the North Korea nuclear issue and we will continue to closely cooperate with the relevant parties to achieve this."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also made a statement, expressing his government's pleasure at the news.

Shinzo Abe, Japanese Prime Minister, said, "It's good that the six-party talks will resume. At the six-party talks, we must push for North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons one step at a time and we must urge North Korea to take concrete steps. We would like to express importance of solving the issue of North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals during the six-party talks."

However, DPRK's official newspaper condemned Japan for hindering the progress of the talks, and went on to say that Japan is not qualified to take part in them.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters that Russia agreed with the aim of a negotiated solution to the DPRK nuclear issue and also expected positive results from the talks.

Second Session of the Fifth Round of Six-Party Talks to Be Held in Beijing

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang announces on December 11:

The parties concerned decided through consultation that the second session of the fifth round of Six-Party Talks will start in Beijing on December 18.

Editor:Du Xiaodan