By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hinted there would be a breakthrough in the stalled six-party talks, aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear ambition, during her Asian tour.
She left Christopher Hill, the top U.S. nuclear envoy, in Beijing to continue discussions with Chinese officials Wednesday.
``I was there (in Beijing) for a short time and we were having good discussions and it seemed like a good idea for Chris to stay behind and continue them,'' Rice told reporters in Tokyo, the last stop of her four-day tour which also brought her to South Korea.
Hill was supposed to accompany Rice to Japan but Hill remained in Beijing because discussions were going well.
``The talks were useful and they were constructive and I would like to have continued them myself,'' she said.
Rice also said that she is not disturbed by delays in the second phase of North Korea's denuclearization program. North Korea should have completed the second phase by the end of 2007 under the six-party talks' accord in exchange for economic aids and political concessions.
North Korea implemented the first phase of disabling nuclear facilities in Yongbyon last summer. The third and last step would be the dismantlement of nuclear facilities.
``I don't think that the second phase is going to have to end in a way that inspires confidence that the third phase is going to make progress given the difficulties,'' she said. ``That's the sort of the thing that we are really talking through the Chinese.''
The two Koreas, the United States and China are discussing ways to facilitate the declaration, according to Seoul officials. Washington insists the declaration includes a suspicious uranium enrichment program (UEP) and nuclear technology transfer to other countries but Pyongyang denies the suspicions.
``Though the nuclear talks look deadlocked, the nations concerned are seeking compromise, particularly on the UEP,'' an official said on condition of anonymity. ``Negotiators come up with various ideas on the UEP, which would be accepted by North Korea.''
Washington said the declaration should be complete and correct, including proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology.
Rice said, ``Whenever you have a nuclear program that is as advanced as the North Korean nuclear program in a country that is as opaque and has had very little contact with the outside world, you need to worry about proliferation as a near-term and a long-term concern,'' referring to the North's connection with Syria.
The United States questioned if North Korea helped Syria build nuclear sites but both North Korea and Syria deny it.