Seoul, Oct 01: South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun was optimistic today that multination talks to end the crisis over North Korea's nuclear weapons programs will continue, despite the communist state's insistence that it's no longer interested in such talks. The United States, the two Koreas, China, Japan and Russia held their first round of negotiations in Beijing a month ago, but the meeting ended without agreement on when to hold the next round because the United States and North Korea differed widely over how to end the crisis.

"I expect that the second round of the talks will be held in due time and will produce good results,'' Roh said during a speech marking South Korea's armed forces day. Roh's comment came a day after North Korea said it was compelled to ``discard any interests or expectation'' for further talks because Washington tried to use the meeting to disarm the isolated country.

Pyongyang also said it was taking ``practical measures'' to beef up its nuclear program as a ``deterrent'' against a possible US invasion.

But the North Korean statement left open the possibility that it would return to the negotiating table if Washington made concessions. Washington demands that North Korea first dismantle its nuclear programs, while the North says it will do so only if the United States signs a Non-Aggression Treaty, provides economic aid and opens diplomatic ties.
Bureau Report