The United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) show flexibility at the start of six-party talks to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula in Beijing on Tuesday.
The United States said at the opening ceremony of the talks that it regards the DPRK as a sovereign state and has no intention of invading or attacking it. The DPRK said it is ready to "sail to the goal" of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.
Chinese analysts described the opening remarks as a demonstration of flexibility compared to the previous three rounds of talks that took place between August 2003 and June 2004.
"It's great progress for the United States to formally announce in the talks that it recognizes DPRK's sovereignty and promises not to invade or attack the country," said Wang Yizhou, deputy director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics operating under the auspices of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
"Such recognition and promise, if coupled with a peaceful settlement of the nuclear crisis, will clear the way for the US and DPRK to forge diplomatic ties after decades of confrontation," Wang said.
The US statement was of particular significance to the DPRK, which over the past years has repeatedly asked the United States to respect its sovereignty and normalize political and economic relations with it, while offering "definite assurance" of non-aggression against it.
A spokesman for the Chinese delegation described the various meetings so far as "positive, serious and pragmatic."
"My impression is that ... all sides are expectant of certain progress for this round, and that they would take the opinions and concerns of the others seriously, and work vigorously to make the new round fruitful," said Qin Gang, spokesman for the Chinese delegation, at a briefing at the end of the day.
All parties agree to working towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but have yet to decide on how.
"The six-party talks offer a better future for the DPRK," said US chief negotiator Christopher Hill.
"If the DPRK decides to dismantle its nuclear program permanently, fully, verifiably," Hill added, the other parties including the US are prepared to take corresponding measures consistent with the principle of words for words and actions for actions.
China, however, has warned that the road to a nuclear-weapon-free Korean Peninsula might be complicated and tedious.
"There is a common wish that the Korean Peninsula should be denuclearized through dialogue within the framework of the six-party talks," Qin said. "But I think the road is a complicated one."
Negotiators from the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan have also voiced hopes that this round of talks would bear some fruit. In addition, Japan has insisted that the issue of the DPRK's abduction of Japanese nationals be addressed as well.
Japan's chief negotiator Sasae Kenichiro said in his opening remarks that outstanding issues of concern such as nuclear capabilities, arms and abductions should be resolved in a comprehensive manner.
However, the ROK delegation urged all parties concerned to focus their efforts on trying to realize the target of building a nuclear-weapons-free Korean Peninsula.
"It is not ideal for the parties concerned to distract from this target (of building a nuclear-weapons-free Korean Peninsula) during the new round of the six-party talks," said Song Min-soon, the ROK's delegation head and deputy foreign minister.
Chinese analysts said Japan's demand might complicate things.
"Japan's insistence on discussing the abduction issue will make the nuclear talks more complicated and will possibly hinder progress," said Shen Jiru, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "That's because the DPRK is strongly opposed to raising the issue at this time, and the other parties do not support that either."
(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2005)
