26 February 2008

Rice Pleased with Chinese Support on North Korea Nuclear Programs

Chinese pledge in-depth, comprehensive talks with North Koreans

Washington -- The United States is pleased with progress toward eliminating nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula, but North Korea also must honor pledges to issue a complete declaration of its nuclear programs.  Chinese leaders have agreed to use their influence with North Korean leaders.

"The United States and China will continue to work together and with other members of the Six-Party Talks so that we can complete this phase and move on to the next phase of denuclearization," says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.  Rice was in Beijing February 26 on the second stop of a three-nation tour of East Asia that has taken her to South Korea and will end in Japan February 28.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi praised the talks with Rice, saying that China was willing and ready to work with the United States and other members of the complex talks to end the threat of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula.

"We're at the cusp of something very special here," Rice said of the shutdown and disablement of the main nuclear facility in North Korea at Yongbyon.  "And now it's time to move on because the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is in everyone's interest."

Rice said she is expecting of China what she also expects of others "because we will use all influence possible with the North Koreans that it's time to move forward."  That includes a willingness on the part of the United States to meet with the North Koreans in one-on-one talks.

Yang said the Chinese have been in close contact with the North Korean regime and have been conducting in-depth and comprehensive negotiations on how to implement the second phase of the agreement for full disclosure of its nuclear weapons program.

The declaration is expected to include details on the transfer of technology and technical knowledge that could be used in the making of nuclear weapons.  The declaration was due two months ago.

The bilateral talks in Beijing ranged from Darfur in Sudan to other human rights issues, Iran, Taiwan, counterterrorism, energy, the environment and related international issues, Yang said.

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