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US and DPRK Open Talks in New York
The United States and DPRK opened a new round of talks Wednesday on a raft of divisive issues which have left their relations frozen in Cold War suspicion.
Talks between senior negotiators at an undisclosed location in New York City will focus on the Stalinist state's missile program, its alleged support for terrorism and the destination of its weapons sales.
"There is no set length for the talks, but the terrorism component will not be discussed until next week," a State Department official told AFP.
The US side delegation is being led by special Korea envoy Charles Kartman, and includes Robert Einhorn, the assistant secretary of state for non-proliferation, and Michael Sheehan, counter-terrorism coordinator.
The North Koreans are being directed by vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye Gwan.
Few details on the progress or otherwise of the talks are expected until they are over.
It is clear however that US officials will want clarification of North Korea's offer to give up its missile program in return for access to satellite launches.
The apparent concession was offered to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Pyongyang.
But South Korean media executives were quoted as saying later that Kim had told them he made the offer "laughingly" and had mocked US concern about North Korea's missile program.
Washington also wants to discuss the Agreed Framework, the 1994 deal under which Pyongyang committed to end its nuclear weapons program in exchange for two nuclear reactors worth 4.6 billion dollars.
It is also concerned that Pyongyang may be funneling chemical or other weapons technology to US adversaries in return for desperately needed hard currency.
North Korea is manouvering towards the eventual establishment of relations with the United States and will be aware of future uncertainty in Washington as President Bill Clinton's second term ends in early 2001.
Amid the euphoria which greeted the June summit between North and South Korea, the United States has been noticeably cautious on proclaiming a new era of peace on the divided peninsular where it maintains 37,000 troops.
US-North Korean relations have tracked through a familiar cycle of suspicion, disruption and damage control in recent years, both sides have struggled to keep channels of communication open.
Those halting exchanges peaked when US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met North Korea's Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun in Bangkok.
Many in the US policy establishment still see North Korea as an acute threat -- despite its recent overtures to its southern neighbour.
"North Korea remains the major threat to stability and security in Northeast Asia and is the country most likely to involve the United States in a large-scale war," said a new Pentagon report made public Friday.
"There is little or no evidence of economic reform, or reform-minded leaders, reduction in military forces or a lessening of anti-US rhetoric."
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