Christopher Hill: “U.S. Will Not Give Up Six-Way Talks”

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for State East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill remarked on the six-way talks designed to deal with the North Korean nuclear crisis on April 29, saying, “Even though the prospects for the talks are unclear, the U.S. believes that the six-way negotiations are the best way to resolve the issue. The nuclear issue should be solved and we don’t have the luxury to give up the talks.”

Hill made his remarks at a news conference at the public information center of the American Embassy in Namyeong-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

“However, it has been 10 months since the talks have stalled,” said Hill. “Since the North admitted its possession of nuclear capability and shut down the operation of its reactors in Yongbyun over the last three weeks, things are moving quite rapidly.”

He added, “It is not clear, but North Korea might have reprocessed the spent nuclear fuel rods,” adding, “If the North keeps boycotting the talks, the six-way talks might become problematic.”

Jong-Koo Yoon jkmas@donga.com