State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in Washington that the United States was “cautiously optimistic” about the talks.
Associated Press
BEIJING — U.S. and North Korea envoys reopen nuclear talks today, seeking ways for Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear programs in return for much-needed aid.
The countries were on the verge of a deal to have Washington provide food if Pyongyang suspends its uranium enrichment program when the agreement was upended by the death of the country’s longtime leader Kim Jong Il on Dec. 17.
“Today is, as we say, ‘Game day.’ We will have an opportunity to meet with First Vice Foreign Minister Kim and his team,” U.S. envoy Glyn Davies said before the start of morning talks with Kim Kye Gwan at the North Korean Embassy in Beijing.
The two will hold a second session this afternoon at the U.S. Embassy.
Davies said it was a good sign that North Korea had agreed to re-enter talks so soon after the death of Kim Jong Il as the country transfers power to his young son, Kim Jong Un, and a coterie of advisers.
He said a key point was to see if North Korea was willing to fulfill obligations made in a joint statement in September 2005, which committed North Korea to abandoning its nuclear program in exchange for aid and pledges that Washington wouldn’t seek the regime’s ouster.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in Washington that the United States was “cautiously optimistic” about the talks.