Top nuclear negotiator of the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK) Kim Gye Gwan stressed on Saturday morning that DPRK
needs light-water reactors for the eventual dismantlement of its
nuclear facilities.
"To eventually dismantle the nuclear facilities, light-water
reactors are needed," Kim told reporters at airport before leaving
Beijing, where he had joined three-day talks together with top
nuclear negotiators of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the
United States and Russia.
The DPRK had asked for light-water reactors in previous rounds
of the six-party talks, saying it was to meet the country's energy
needs.
On the newly-closed talks in Beijing, Kim said the talks had
"practical" and "constructive" atmosphere and the results of the
talks were good.
He said the six top negotiators mainly discussed the
implementation of the initial actions of the February 13 agreement
and also on the next phase of talks.
"The DPRK will implement (commitments) of the September 19 joint
statement and February 13 joint document, and we have made our
position clear (during the talks)," said Kim, adding in future's
working groups' meeting and next phase of talks, DPRK will carry
out its obligations.
Kim said he had met with Japanese top negotiator Kenichiro Sasae
within the framework of the six-party talks at Sasae's request and
they discussed the progress of the talks and DPRK-Japan
relations.
Kim warned that Japan would face disaster if Japan steps up
pressure on DPRK.
"Japan is infringing upon our national sovereignty and creating
a crisis by giving political pressure to DPRK, which is worse than
financial sanctions," said Kim, "if Japan steps further than this,
I warned that there will be a disaster."
Up to now, all the six top negotiators have left Beijing. The
ROK top negotiator Chun Yung-woo also left Beijing on Saturday and
had arrived at the airport before Kim.
Chun told reporters that he was satisfied with the talks in
Beijing and there were a lot of things which need to be done in a
month.
The closed-door talks between the six chief delegates ended on
Friday morning with a schedule for the next round of negotiations,
but without a disarmament deadline.
Delegates attending the meeting decided to convene in early
September for another round of talks and the five working groups
will meet by the end of August to discuss technical details
concerning the disablement of the nuclear facilities of DPRK.
(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2007)