Pyongyang "eager" to resume nuclear talks

The North Korean government "ready" to return to negotiating table on nuclear disarmament. In fact, its stance remains "unchanged" and wants to resume talks at an early date"." The statement highlights regime’s desperation.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - North Korea "can not wait" to resume Six-Party Talks on nuclear disarmament, “at an early date" and "without preconditions”, declared the spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry, stating that the regime’s attitude remains “unchanged”, "always willing" to return to talks.

The Six-Party Talks is a working group composed of China, Russia, United States, Japan and the two Koreas, which aims to limit nuclear proliferation in East Asia. The talks were interrupted in 2009, after a double military strike and a series of unauthorized nuclear tests carried out by the Kim regime. Pyongyang unilaterally withdrew, before being ejected after a unauthorized second test.

The statement came after two days of exploratory talks with the US. Speaking on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit which was held in Indonesia in mid-July, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had said that the resumption of talks "is necessary", but added: "We have no intentions of making concessions to the regime."

The declaration of the North’s government suggests a positive response to this opening, but it also denotes impatience to resume diplomatic relations with Seoul. Its expulsion from the talks has also led to the blocking of humanitarian aid, and the ensuing famine in the country.

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