Washington, Jan 11: The administration of president George W Bush, awaiting the outcome of talks in new Mexico, says North Korea must "completely dismantle" its nuclear weapons programme. "The only message we expect is what America's position is, that we are ready to talk, and that we will not negotiate," white house spokesman Ari Fleischer said. Bill Richardson, a former UN Ambassador who is now Governor of New Mexico, was expected to push that message during a second day of discussions today in Santa Fe with two North Korean UN diplomats. They met for two hours over dinner yesterday. "The talks were cordial but candid," Richardson's spokesman, Billy Sparks, told a group of reporters outside the Governor's mansion.
The Bush administration contends North Korea acted in bad faith during the Clinton era by carrying out a secret nuclear weapon programme in violation of agreements even as it was displaying friendship toward Washington.


Bureau Report