The Korea Herald

피터빈트

U.S. envoy says resumption of six-party talks depends on N. Korea

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Published : Feb. 22, 2012 - 19:20

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Beijing--A U.S. special envoy said Wednesday the resumption of stalled six-party talks on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program depends on the North.

Glyn Davies, the U.S. special envoy for North Korea policy, made the remarks in a meeting with reporters after arriving earlier in Beijing, where he is to have a high-level meeting with his North Korean counterpart on Thursday.

Davies added that he wants to talk about the future, not about the past.

The Thursday meeting in Beijing would mark the first bilateral contact between the two sides since the December death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

Experts are paying close attention to the meeting, as it is expected to provide a glimpse into whether Kim's youngest son and new leader Kim Jong-un will abandon his country's nuclear programs.

The six-party talks had been used as a main negotiation channel to persuade the North to give up its nuclear ambitions. However, the talks, which involve the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia, have not been held since late 2008. (Yonhap News)