US offers carrot, while N Korea says drop the stick

BEIJING – The United States yesterday offered a proposal to try to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis at six-party talks in Beijing, while an entrenched Pyongyang urged Washington to soften its stance.

Chief negotiators from the six parties opened discussions on the 20-month nuclear crisis at the exclusive Diaoyutai State Guesthouse as Japan warned that the credibility of the talks would be on the line if no progress was made. Progress in two previous rounds has been glacial, and few expect major breakthroughs despite the US proposal, which the New York Times said contained incentives for the North to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.”We are prepared for serious discussion and we have a proposal to offer,” US Assistant Secretary of State, James Kelly, said in an opening statement.”A focus on the common objective, and practical and effective means to attain it, will lead in a very positive direction with new political, economic and diplomatic possibilities,” he said.Kelly gave no details.The two Koreas, the United States, Japan, Russia and host China have held two previous rounds of senior-level talks on the 20-month crisis, both of which ended inconclusively.The New York Times said in its Wednesday edition US negotiators would offer the North new but “highly conditional” incentives to give up its nuclear weapons, including a provisional guarantee not to invade.The incentives, if offered, would be the first significant, detailed overture to North Korea since President George W Bush took office more than three years ago and branded North Korea as part of an “axis of evil” alongside Iran and pre-war Iraq.- Nampa-ReutersProgress in two previous rounds has been glacial, and few expect major breakthroughs despite the US proposal, which the New York Times said contained incentives for the North to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.”We are prepared for serious discussion and we have a proposal to offer,” US Assistant Secretary of State, James Kelly, said in an opening statement.”A focus on the common objective, and practical and effective means to attain it, will lead in a very positive direction with new political, economic and diplomatic possibilities,” he said.Kelly gave no details.The two Koreas, the United States, Japan, Russia and host China have held two previous rounds of senior-level talks on the 20-month crisis, both of which ended inconclusively.The New York Times said in its Wednesday edition US negotiators would offer the North new but “highly conditional” incentives to give up its nuclear weapons, including a provisional guarantee not to invade.The incentives, if offered, would be the first significant, detailed overture to North Korea since President George W Bush took office more than three years ago and branded North Korea as part of an “axis of evil” alongside Iran and pre-war Iraq.- Nampa-Reuters