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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, January 12, 2003

Talks Between DPRK Diplomats, US Governor End

Former US ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson on Saturday described his talks with two diplomats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as "positive and constructive."


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Former US ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson on Saturday described his talks with two diplomats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as "positive and constructive."

Richardson, now governor of US state New Mexico who has dealt extensively with the DPRK, and DPRK's deputy UN ambassador Han Song Ryol and First Secretary Mun Jong-Chol ended a three-day meeting, designed to ease the crisis caused by Pyongyang's withdrawal from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Speaking to reporters after the talks at his governor's mansion, Richardson said Han had promised him that the DPRK did not intend to develop nuclear weapons and told him that the country would discuss US concerns over verifying its nuclear programs.

Richardson said the meetings, which totaled nine hours from Thursday evening to Saturday morning, "were positive, constructive, I think they've eased tensions a bit. They were candid."

The governor said he had spoken twice Saturday with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, briefing him on the details of the meeting.

The DPRK on Friday announced its NPT withdrawal, while saying it had no intention of developing nuclear weapons.

The DPRK government also rejected a resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Jan. 6 when the IAEA ordered the DPRK to readmit its monitors who were expelled on New Year's Eve. The inspectors were monitoring a nuclear reactor suspected of producing plutonium for nuclear weapons.


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