 |
US Wants `Constructive' Talks on N. Korea Missiles
The United States said on Monday that it was looking forward to constructive dialogue with Pyongyang at crucial talks on North Korea's missile programme.
The two sides will address the development, deployment, testing and export of North Korean missiles during the three-day talks being held at the US embassy in the Malaysian capital.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Non-proliferation Robert Einhorn said the talks were being held against "a positive, promising backdrop".
Washington has recently eased economic sanctions against North Korea after almost 50 years.
"Since our last round the North Korea has embarked on a policy of extending contact with the outside world," Einhorn said in a brief statement to reporters before the start of the talks.
"We are looking forward to detailed constructive discussion on issues that we believe have an impact on the security of the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large," he said.
US and North Korean officials have met on and off in Europe and the United States for the past six years on North Korea's missile plan. On the nuclear issue, the two countries last met for six days of talks in Rome in May where North Korea agreed to freeze its nuclear programmes in return for fuel oil and western-designed nuclear power stations.
After the ground-breaking summit between North and South Korea last month, the US said it would maintain a military presence on the Korean peninsula even if the two Koreas eventually reunify.
The United States has 37,000 troops in South Korea.
In This Section
|