South Korean negotiator Chun Yung-woo, left, and North Korea's Kim Myong Gil, arrive for a photo opportunity.
Photo: AP
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N. Korean Nuclear Talks Drag On
The Beijing talks on North Korean nuclear program have unexpectedly continued. The negotiations began March 19 and were to last for no more than three days. The extension could be attributed to the parties’ failure to tackle key problems.
During this round of nuclear talks that have gone nowhere so far, North Korea has refused to discuss shutting down its main reactor until $25 million is unfrozen in Macao bank of Banca Delta Asia, according to Reuters.
Another problem is the clashes of Pyongyang and Tokyo. North Korea blamed on Tokyo the attempts to disrupt negotiations and refused to accept energy assistance of Japan. Earlier, Japan said it wouldn’t help full-scale or establish diplomatic relations with North Korea till the issue with Japan’s residents abducted by secret services of North Korea in 1970 to 1980 is finally solved.
In February, North Korea yielded to a deal committing it to shut down Yongbyon nuclear reactor within two months. In return, South Korea, China, the United States and Russia were to provide 50,000 tons of black oil or equal economic or humanitarian aid. North Korea was promised 950,000 tons of crude oil more (or economic/humanitarian equivalent) should it close all nuclear facilities and submit a complete list of its nuclear programs and the data on plutonium reserves.
www.kommersant.com
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