BEIJING, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The six parties for talks
on Korean Peninsula nuclear issue are discussing the formation of working groups,
said a Japanese delegation spokesman on Wednesday.
Given the difficulty of solving all problems within a week, it is necessary to set up working groups "relatively separate within the mechanism of six-party talks", said Noriyuki Shikata during an exclusive interview with Xinhua.
The second phase of the fifth round of six-party talks also involve China, the Democratic People Republic Korea (DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea and Russia.
The talks in this phase are going on without "substantial progress" yet, Shikata said.
The spokesman noted that great differences still exist among the parties concerned, especially a wide gap between the DPRK and other parties.
"Japan still takes the six-party talks as an effective mechanism, and all parties agree it is the best way to cope with the nuclear issue within the framework." Shikata told Xinhua.
According to the spokesman, Japanese chief negotiator Kenichiro Sasae had met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Taro Aso before heading to Beijing for the nuclear talks.
They discussed Japanese stances and principles, and mentioned the nuclear, missile and abduction issues as the Japanese government's top concerns, hoping the current talks could have "a crucial step" toward the solution to those issues, Shikata said.
During the ongoing talks, chief nuclear negotiators from the DPRK and the United States on Tuesday held their first one-on-one discussions.
"The Japanese side has no plan yet for a bilateral meeting with the DPRK," Shikata said, adding Japan's dialogue with the DPRK is always open.
As to the duration of the current talks, Shikata noted it would be "open-ended" and depend on the progress made.
Related:
BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chief nuclear
negotiators from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United
States on Tuesday held their first one-on-one discussions at the six-party talks
underway in Beijing.
BEIJING, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The delegations of the
United States and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will continue to
hold bilateral talks Wednesday over U.S. financial sanctions against Pyongyang,
said U.S. treasury official Tuesday night.
BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Foreign
Minister Dai Bingguo hosted a banquet on Tuesday evening for the envoys
attending the six-party talks on Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, saying the
negotiations are "deepening" despite twists and turns in the talks.
BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The chief U.S.
negotiator to the six-party nuclear talks on Tuesday said "no breakthroughs" had
been made after the first one-on-one meeting with his counterpart from the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday said
the ongoing six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue will be
open-ended.
BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The parties to the
six-party talks need further discussions to decide the establishment, number and
focus of working groups, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.
BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese negotiator for
the ongoing six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue on Tuesday called on all
sides to decide on a course of action to continue the resolution process.
BEIJING, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The six parties to the
Korean peninsular nuclear issue talks conducted "candid", "pragmatic" and
"serious" talks on the first day of negotiations, even if there are still
divergences on a series of issues, said Chinese delegation spokesperson Jiang Yu
here Monday.
BEIJING, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The six-party talks on
Korean Peninsula nuclear issue resumed in Beijing on Monday after a 13-month
hiatus, but with analysts predicting that negotiations will be
tough.
