- News>
- World
China says N Korea does not want nuclear weapons
United Nations, Dec 08: China`s premier Wen Jiabao has said that North Korea`s ultimate goal was a nuclear-free Korean peninsula and that Pyongyang and Washington were inching closer in solving the year-old crisis.
United Nations, Dec 08: China's premier Wen Jiabao has said that North Korea's ultimate goal was a nuclear-free Korean peninsula and that Pyongyang and Washington were inching closer in solving the year-old crisis.
''At present it is not their objective to posses nuclear weapons. Their ultimate objective is to have a nuclear weapons-free Korean peninsula,'' wen told reporters yesterday of the North's goals after meeting UN Secretary General Kofi Annan at the United Nations.
Wen said the isolated North, which counts Beijing as one of its few allies and the main provider of its food and fuel aid, had ''also expressed the hope that their security concern should be met.''
''On the US side, the United States has also said on many occasions that the US had no intention to invade to change the current regime of North Korea,'' he added. ''So I think the positions of the two parties are getting closer.'' The crisis erupted in October 2002 when US officials said Pyongyang had privately admitted pursuing a clandestine nuclear weapons program that violated its international agreements.
The two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan held an inconclusive round of talks on the crisis in Beijing in August and have been trying to set up another round since.
US and Asian officials have said it looks likely the next round will be delayed until January or February.
Pyongyang has refused to scrap its nuclear program unless it receives a security guarantee from Washington. The United States wants North Korea to quit its nuclear program before offering guarantees. Wen added that it was important to continue the six-party talks and hold them ''as soon as possible.
Bureau Report
Wen said the isolated North, which counts Beijing as one of its few allies and the main provider of its food and fuel aid, had ''also expressed the hope that their security concern should be met.''
''On the US side, the United States has also said on many occasions that the US had no intention to invade to change the current regime of North Korea,'' he added. ''So I think the positions of the two parties are getting closer.'' The crisis erupted in October 2002 when US officials said Pyongyang had privately admitted pursuing a clandestine nuclear weapons program that violated its international agreements.
The two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan held an inconclusive round of talks on the crisis in Beijing in August and have been trying to set up another round since.
US and Asian officials have said it looks likely the next round will be delayed until January or February.
Pyongyang has refused to scrap its nuclear program unless it receives a security guarantee from Washington. The United States wants North Korea to quit its nuclear program before offering guarantees. Wen added that it was important to continue the six-party talks and hold them ''as soon as possible.
Bureau Report