Upcoming 6-party talks bring hope to resolve DPRK nuclear issue

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 02-02-2007 14:19

After nearly a two month break, the Six-Party talks will resume in Beijing next week. The previous rounds of negotiations have failed to make significant progress. So negotiators are hoping the third phase of the fifth round will bring concrete agreements towards denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

In the South Korean capital of Seoul, Foreign Minister Song Min-Soon is aiming for real steps to end the DPRK's atomic weapons program.

Song Min-Soon, S.Korean foreign minister, said, "In the next round of talks, we should agree on what to do in details. So we have to reach a ridge we have not set foot on yet. Until now, we have discussed how to reach that ridge. Now we should reach that ridge."

In Washington, the US chief envoy to the six-party talks is optimistic that progress can be made during the next round of negotiations. But he couldn't guarantee that immediate and concrete steps would be announced next week.

Christopher hill, US envoy to 6-party talks, said, " we can expect some progress on this. We will have to see and I am not willing at this point to say we are definitely going to achieve something."

And the host of the negotiations, China says preparations are underway for representatives from the six nations to meet again.

Jiang Yu, spokeswoman, Chinese foreign ministry, said, "Preparations are underway for the upcoming third stage of the fifth round of talks. We think that peaceful talks and negotiations are THE way to realize denuclearization, normalize relations among all parties, and maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula and in northeast Asia. We should work together toward a shared aim to push forward talks and to get results and make the September 19th Joint Statement a reality."

According to China's Vice Foreign Minister and chief negotiator, Wu Dawei, the six-party talks will start next Thursday and will take two to four days.

Editor:Du Xiaodan