Six-party talks resume in Beijing

The heads of the six-party delegations have arrived in Beijing for talks on the DPRK's nuclear program. They're expected to focus on how to verify the DPRK's nuclear list. The talks have been on hold for nine months.

Wu Dawei (R), China's top negotiator on Korean Peninsular nuclear issue, meets with his South Korean counterpart Kim Sook in Beijing, capital of China, July 9, 2008.  The heads meeting of a new round of six-party talks on  Korean Peninsular nuclear issue will be held here on  July 10. (Xinhua Photo)

After a 9 month pause, the six party talks are coming back to Diaoyutai.

Prior to Thursday's meeting, Wu Dawei, the head of the Chinese delegation and also the Vice Minister of Chinese Foreign Affairs, met with Christopher Hill, US chief negotiator, Assistant Secretary of State.

Christopher Hill, US Chief Negotiator said: "The DPRK, in providing their declaration, said they would cooperate fully on verification efforts so we have to identify what those efforts would be."

Disagreement over the DPRK's declaration of its nuclear facilities has deadlocked the talks since the end of last year. A compromise was made between the US and the DPRK in April. Pyongyang will quantify its plutonium production, but does not have to reveal details about nuclear weapons it has made. While the US could lift its sanctions against the country.

Last month, the DPRK demolished a cooling tower at its Yongbyon facility after it submitted a much delayed list of nuclear materials to China. In response, the US announced it would remove the DPRK from its list of states sponsoring terrorism. The exchanges paved the way for the resumption of the six-nation meetings in Beijing.

Kim Sook, South Korean Chief Negotiator said: "For now it is too early to say whether it is either optimistic or pessimistic."

China is urging all parties to take the opportunity to push forward the process in a comprehensive and balanced manner.

Wu Dawei, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister said: "We hope we can make the overall arrangements on how to implement the agreement reached in the second phase of Six-party talks with the joint efforts of all the parties."

Although historic progress has been made with the DPRK taking steps to dismantle its facilities, the declaration is a long way from being agreed upon. Verification could be a long process.

This new round of six-party talks has been called two weeks after Pyongyang's declaration. And the destruction of the Yongbyon cooling tower demonstrates the DPRK's commitment. But achieving denuclearization will require more breakthroughs in many remaining thorny issues.