U.S. Expects Six-Way Talks To Be Held By This Year

The United States said on Tuesday local time that it expects a second round of six-party talks addressing the North Korean nuclear crisis to take place within this month and is closely cooperating with China to realize it.

"We are certainly ready to attend the talks without any preconditions, but we`ll have to see if it is possible to hold six-party talks this month," said U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher at a briefing on Tuesday.

“We have discussed a resumption of the six-way talks thoroughly with countries including the United States, China, South Korea, Japan, and Russia. For the resumption of the six-way talks, we are also closely contacting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who is visiting Washington,” Boucher added. Secretary State Colin Powel also met Chinese Premier Wen to explain the U.S. position on the early resumption of six-way talks.

In the meantime, Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck did not rule out the possibility of delaying the six-party talks to next year, saying, “Next week is the only time left to hold the six-ways talks by this year, because there are the Christmas holidays on the fourth week of this month.”

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