China welcomes NKorean nuclear freeze move, says gaps narrowing

BEIJING (AFP) Jan 08, 2004
China Thursday welcomed North Korea's offer to freeze its nuclear facilities and Washington's response, saying the gap between the two was narrowing and preparations for a new round of talks were progressing.

"China welcomes the willingness of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to stop nuclear activities," foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan said.

"China also appreciates the US Secretary of State Colin Powell's positive response in this regard."

North Korea this week offered to refrain from testing and producing nuclear weapons in what it said was a "bold concession" to the United States.

Powell responded by saying the chances of a second round of talks on Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions were improving, although he stepped back from initial comments that he was "encouraged."

Kong said indications were that the two sides were moving closer to common ground and the prospects for more talks involving China, Japan, Russia, the United States and the two Koreas were better.

"I believe the gaps are narrowing and the parties have a better understanding of each other's positions," he said at a regular briefing.

"We believe that the preparations of the talks are making progress. We hope to hold the talks as soon as possible. The Chinese side is working on this behalf."

China has been trying to convene a new round of talks on the crisis which were scheduled for December but never went ahead.

South Korea and Japan Wednesday also welcomed North Korea's statement in which it said it wanted US aid and an end to US sanctions in return for a nuclear freeze.

The United States has demanded an irrevocable and verifiable decision by North Korea to abandon its quest for nuclear weapons before it will consider offering concessions.

While upbeat, Kong however cautioned that concrete results must come out of any new round of negotiations.

"These talks should carry on past achievements. These talks should bear concrete results," he said.

"We have repeated our position on this issue -- that is that the Korean peninsula should be nuclear free and that North Korean security concerns should be taken into account.

"The settlement of this question should be thorough to facilitate peace and stability in the peninsula."

China's comments came as two unofficial US delegations are in Pyongyang hoping for a tour of the Yongbyon nuclear complex at the center of a crisis, which erupted in October 2002 when Washington accused North Korea of breaching an anti-nuclear pact.

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