Six parties involved in the Korean nuclear issue will make their
final attempt to clinch a deal as the talks entered the fifth day
on Monday, with energy aid still as focus of negotiations.
"It is the last day of the talks, let's see how it goes," said
chief US negotiator Christopher Hill. "We have put everything on
the table, it's up to North Korea."
South Korean chief negotiator Chun Yung-woo cautioned the
prospect of the talks.
"The sky in Beijing is very clear, but the prospect for the
six-party talks is unclear," Chun told reporters in the hotel.
At a chief delegates' meeting on Sunday, North Korea agreed with
other parties to conclude the talks on Monday. "This shows North
Korea has the will to achieve results today," said Chun.
But whether the talks will conclude today depends on what the
attitude North Korea will take, Chun added.
Echoing Chun's remarks, Japanese negotiator Kenichiro Sasae said
the parties will make utmost efforts to reach an agreement as the
talks are stretched to the final day on Monday.
"However, whether or not an agreement will be reached depends on
the response from North Korea," said Sasae.
To coordinate differences, host China held separate bilateral
meetings with North Korea and the US on Monday morning. And North
Korea and the US also held their one-on-one meeting, according to
the press center.
"The talks now hinge on the differences on an agreement," said
an official from the South Korean delegation, adding that the
envoys have held random contacts on Monday morning in efforts to
strike a deal.
"It's hard to say we should be optimistic or pessimistic at
present," said the official with condition of anonymity.
Envoys from host China, the US, Japan, Russia, North and South
Korea reconvened the talks on Thursday in Beijing in the wake of a
48-day recess.
But the talks got blocked by the energy aid to North Korea after
the negotiators held consultations on a Chinese draft, which
involves the moves North Korea will take to abandon its nuclear
program in return for economic aid and security guarantee.
The draft reportedly proposes halting within two months the work
at nuclear sites in North Korea, including the Yongbyon reactor,
and supplying Pyongyang with alternative energy
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(Xinhua News Agency February 12, 2007)
