China: North Korea ready to rejoin nuclear talks

North Korea on Wednesday, June 19, said it was willing to resume stalled nuclear talks, its ally China, said. But the US, Japan and South Korea were unimpressed and called for action instead of words. Quoting North Korea’s veteran negotiator Kim Kye-Gwan, China said Pyongyang was willing to engage in any form of dialogue to resolve the nuclear issue peacefully. Kim, during talks in Beijing, said the dialogue could take place through 6-party talks which started in 2003 but which were stalled since 2008, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. Besides the US, Japan and South Korea, the 6 parties include China, Russia and North Korea. In February, tension over North Korea’s nuclear program increased after it carried out a third underground atomic blast, incurring the ire of the international community. Tempers cooled when the North indicated it was more open to dialogue. But it cancelled talks with the South last week, casting doubts about its genuine intentions. 

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