Rice set for North Korea meeting

Condoleezza Rice has held talks in Singapore with regional officials prior to a meeting on North Korea's nuclear program. The U.S. secretary of state will meet ministers involved in six-nation talks aimed at disarming North Korea, including a rare encounter with her North Korean counterpart. Rice set for North Korea meeting China described the meeting as "very significant", but the U.S. said it would be an informal exchange of views. It comes weeks after Pyongyang handed over data on its nuclear activities. Discussions are expected to focus on how the U.S. and other nations will verify that information. North Korea agreed in February 2006 to end its nuclear program in return for aid and diplomatic concessions. But the deal has faced numerous delays, and officials have yet to tackle the trickiest issues - such as how many nuclear weapons Pyongyang has and what should be done with them. "Consultation category" The six foreign ministers will meet on the sidelines of an annual Asia-Pacific regional meeting. It will be the first such meeting between top diplomats from Japan, the U.S., China, Russia, and the two Koreas since the nuclear talks began in 2003. "I think this will be very significant for advancing the spirit of the six-party talks," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said. But Rice played down the importance of what will be her first meeting with North Korean counterpart Pak Ui-chun. "I wouldn't call it either historic, monumental or even consequential," she said ahead of the talks. "I think it's really in the consultation category." But, she added, she would give Pak "a very strong message" that the nuclear decommissioning "really needs to be completed, and that it has to be a verification protocol that can give us confidence". The declaration, which was handed over last month, is thought to detail North Korea's plutonium production efforts. But it is not believed to address key issues such as an alleged uranium enrichment program or alleged nuclear cooperation with Syria. The U.S. has now given North Korea a four-page document setting out what it must do to prove it has told the truth about its nuclear program. It is seeking extensive inspections of nuclear facilities, soil sampling and access to key scientists, the Associated Press news agency reported. The goal was to reach a deal on the document by mid-August, U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill said. "They [the North Koreans] made some preliminary comments and indicated some problems with it," he said. "But we have to see what their considered comments back from the capital are." If the information is verified - a process expected to take months - the six nations must then discuss the final phase of the deal, under which North Korea must hand over all its nuclear material and put its nuclear facilities out of action for good. The BBC says Rice's attendance at the Asean regional forum signifies a change of heart in U.S. policy towards Asia. For the first time the U.S. has appointed a permanent ambassador to Asean and is also talking of establishing low-level military ties with its former foes in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos - countries where China has rapidly expanded its influence in recent years.

Rice set for North Korea meeting

China described the meeting as "very significant", but the U.S. said it would be an informal exchange of views.

It comes weeks after Pyongyang handed over data on its nuclear activities.

Discussions are expected to focus on how the U.S. and other nations will verify that information.

North Korea agreed in February 2006 to end its nuclear program in return for aid and diplomatic concessions.

But the deal has faced numerous delays, and officials have yet to tackle the trickiest issues - such as how many nuclear weapons Pyongyang has and what should be done with them.

"Consultation category"

The six foreign ministers will meet on the sidelines of an annual Asia-Pacific regional meeting.

It will be the first such meeting between top diplomats from Japan, the U.S., China, Russia, and the two Koreas since the nuclear talks began in 2003.

"I think this will be very significant for advancing the spirit of the six-party talks," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said.

But Rice played down the importance of what will be her first meeting with North Korean counterpart Pak Ui-chun.

"I wouldn't call it either historic, monumental or even consequential," she said ahead of the talks. "I think it's really in the consultation category."

But, she added, she would give Pak "a very strong message" that the nuclear decommissioning "really needs to be completed, and that it has to be a verification protocol that can give us confidence".

The declaration, which was handed over last month, is thought to detail North Korea's plutonium production efforts.

But it is not believed to address key issues such as an alleged uranium enrichment program or alleged nuclear cooperation with Syria.

The U.S. has now given North Korea a four-page document setting out what it must do to prove it has told the truth about its nuclear program.

It is seeking extensive inspections of nuclear facilities, soil sampling and access to key scientists, the Associated Press news agency reported.

The goal was to reach a deal on the document by mid-August, U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill said.

"They [the North Koreans] made some preliminary comments and indicated some problems with it," he said. "But we have to see what their considered comments back from the capital are."

If the information is verified - a process expected to take months - the six nations must then discuss the final phase of the deal, under which North Korea must hand over all its nuclear material and put its nuclear facilities out of action for good.

The BBC says Rice's attendance at the Asean regional forum signifies a change of heart in U.S. policy towards Asia.

For the first time the U.S. has appointed a permanent ambassador to Asean and is also talking of establishing low-level military ties with its former foes in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos - countries where China has rapidly expanded its influence in recent years.