Six-party talks to resume on Feb.8

Source: CCTV.com | 01-31-2007 08:05

A new date has been set for the resumption of talks on the Korean peninsula nuclear issue. And in Beijing on Tuesday, financial negotiations took place between the US and the DPRK to pave the way for the upcoming talks.

The six-party talks will resume February 8th. Host country China has left the timeframe for negotiations open-ended, as it did last time.

Jiang Yu, spokeswoman Chinese Foreign Ministry, said, "After consulting with all parties concerned, the third session of the fifth round of six-party talks will start on the eighth of February."

In the meantime, financial negotiators from the US and the DPRK have been meeting in Beijing. They are discussing US restrictions taken against a Macao-based bank in 2005. The bank was was accused of laundering counterfeit money and abetting other unspecified criminal acts by the DPRK.

Daniel Glaser, US Deputy Ass't Treasury secretary, said, "I know there has been a lot of focus on Banco Delta Asia, and we'll certainly be talking about illicit conduct at that bank. We'll also be talking about counterfeiting and other related issues."

The DPRK has insisted that the financial dispute be tied to the disarmament talks. It claims the restrictions are evidence of US hostility and a reason for stonewalling the six-party talks.

The financial talks have held up the resumption of six-party talks. And many in the international community are hoping for a concession by either side to help ensure the talks will progress.

The six-party talks are expected to resume next month, a week before the Spring Festival the most important tradition holiday for Chinese people. It means that negotiators may only have a week to bargain in this round of talks. It will be a test of their diplomatic skills as well as their patience.

Editor:Du Xiaodan