“Second Six-Nation Talks on North Korean Nuclear Issue to be Held in Beijing from December 10-13”

The second meeting of the six-nation talks to settle the North Korean nuclear issue will be held in Beijing from December 10 through 13, reported Asahi Shimbun on November 12, citing a Korean governmental source. Asahi Shimbun also reported that it is being considered if the delegations of participating nations should gather one day in advance and have preliminary talks regarding the form of talks and other pertinent issues, just as was done in the August talks.

North Korea and the U.S. have already agreed, and the Chinese government conveyed South Korean government’s view through Dai Bingguo, deputy director of Foreign Ministry, who is currently visiting South Korea. China was reported to have conferred with Japan and Russia, the other participating nations, through diplomatic routes.

“The exact date of talks has not been decided yet,” said Yun Young-kwan, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Hun-Joo Cho hanscho@donga.com