Japanese, South Korean, US officials to discuss NKorea in Washington

TOKYO (AFP) Jan 20, 2004
Top officials from the United States, South Korea and Japan will meet in Washington this week to discuss the next round of six-way talks over North Korea's rogue nuclear arms program, the Japanese foreign ministry said Tuesday.

Attending the two days of talks starting Wednesday will be US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly, South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-Hyuck, and Japan's director general of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Mitoji Yabunaka, the ministry said.

No date has yet been set for the next round of talks, which will also include Russia, China and North Korea, after the first round ended inconclusively in August.

North Korea offered recently to freeze its nuclear weapons drive in return for concessions, including an end to US sanctions and a resumption of energy aid, but Washington is holding out for a commitment from Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear programs.

WAR.WIRE