Chief U.S. nuclear negotiator
Christopher Hill (front, L) shakes hands with Li Geun (front, R), director
of DPRK Foreign Ministry's America Bureau, in Pyongyang, capital of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), June 21, 2007. Hill arrived
here on Thursday in the latest U.S. effort to convince the DPRK to halt
its nuclear weapons program. (Xinhua/Xia Yu Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
PYONGYANG,
June 21 (Xinhua) -- Chief U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill arrived here
on Thursday in the latest U.S. effort to convince the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea to halt its nuclear weapons program.
Hill, who was invited to visit by the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK), is the first high-ranking U.S. negotiator to visit in
nearly five years.
Upon his arrival at the airport, Hill, head of the U.S.
delegation at the six-party talks, told Xinhua that he hoped to "get the
six-party talks process moving."
Hill, a U.S. assistant secretary of state, will focus on
making progress on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
"We hope we can make up for some time we lost this
spring," said Hill, adding "I'm looking forward to the discussion about that."
Hill was greeted at the airport by Li Geun, director of
DPRK Foreign Ministry's America Bureau.
Hill said he was here at the invitation of the DPRK side
but did not go into details about his schedule.
"I don't know yet (whom I am going to meet), my host, I
think, will have the schedule," Hill said.
Hill's trip came after the resolution of a banking dispute that
had held up progress of the six-party talks, which involve the United
States, the DPRK, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.
The DPRK's ambassador to Russia Kim Yong Che said earlier
this week that the funds of 25 million U.S. dollars had arrived at the Central
Bank of Russia and will be transferred to the DPRK foreign trade bank via a
Russian bank.
The ambassador reaffirmed the DPRK's readiness to fulfill
all its commitments undertaken at the six-party talks. The DPRK has insisted
that the funds frozen at the bank be returned before any new negotiations are
conducted.
Hill is scheduled to conclude his trip on Friday.
DPRK said last Saturday it invited inspectors from the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to discuss shutting down the Yongbyon
reactor, as required under the accord reached in China on Feb 13.
Under the February deal, DPRK was supposed to shut down
the Yongbyon reactor within 60 days in exchange for some 50,000 tons of heavy
fuel oil or equivalent aid.
Li Geun (front, 1st L), director of DPRK
Foreign Ministry's America Bureau, welcomes Chief U.S. nuclear negotiator
Christopher Hill (front, 2nd L) at the airport in Pyongyang, capital of
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), June 21, 2007. Hill
arrived here on Thursday in the latest U.S. effort to convince the DPRK to
halt its nuclear weapons program. (Xinhua/Xia Yu Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
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