Little to be optimistic about in North Korea talks: China state press
A Chinese state-run newspaper says there is little to be optimistic about ahead of six-way talks on the North Korean nuclear crisis.
The report in the China Daily has urged more flexibility from Washington and Pyongyang.
In playing down expectations, the newspaper says that "the willing attitide" of North Korea is encouraging but so far only the format of the talks, due to be held in Beijing, have been agreed, not the content of discussions.
It has called Pyongyang's decision to agree to multilateral talks, after consistently insisting on one-on-one talks with Washington, "a huge concession".
But it cautions that it is "too early to declare that the cloud of war over the Korean peninsula, brought about by the nuclear standoff between Pyongyang and Washington, can possibly be dispersed".
It says a final, peaceful settlement "needs more sincerity, concessions if necessary, and a problem-solving spirit from all parties concerned".
Pyongyang said Friday it had accepted the six-way forum for talks to include North and South Korea, Russia, Japan, China and the United States.
Details and timing of the talks are still being discussed, but US and South Korean officials have said they could come as early as this month.
The crisis was triggered in October when Washington said Pyongyang had admitted running a nuclear program in violation of a 1994 arms control accord.
05/08/2003 22:54:46 | ABC Radio Australia News
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