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North Korea nuclear talks resume N Korea warning to 'hostile' US
(about 5 hours later)
Six-party talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programme have resumed after a year's break, amid US warnings Pyongyang is at "a fork in the road". North Korea will not halt its nuclear programme unless the US gives up its "hostile policies", a South Korean official at key talks has said.
North Korea alarmed the world by testing a nuclear weapon in October, prompting the UN to impose financial and arms sanctions. The demand came as six-nation talks on the issue, which have been suspended for a year, resumed in Beijing.
Observers says there will be relief the talks are resuming but scepticism about the chance of a major breakthrough. North Korea alarmed the world by testing a nuclear device in October, prompting the UN to impose arms and other sanctions.
The US has warned that Pyongyang is facing "a fork in the road".
Observers say there will be relief the talks are resuming but scepticism about the chance of a major breakthrough.
N KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closely
The negotiations also include China, Japan, Russia and South Korea.The negotiations also include China, Japan, Russia and South Korea.
International condemnationInternational condemnation
UN sanctions were imposed on North Korea after it tested a missile in July and then exploded its first nuclear weapon in October, leading to a wave of international condemnation. The South Korean official told the Associated Press news agency that the North remained defiant over its new status as a nuclear power and was unconcerned that other countries did not accept it, .
N KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closely The official, who would not be named because of the sensitivity surrounding the talks, said: "North Korea basically seems to say that it cannot dismantle its nuclear programme unless the US drops what it calls a hostile policy."
The US envoy to talks on North Korea's programme held initial talks with Chinese and South Korean envoys in Beijing on Sunday. North Korean envoy to the talks, Kim Kye-gwan, had said on Sunday his country needed nuclear weapons as a deterrent and that US "hostility" was the "biggest problem".
"I hope (North Korea) understands... that we really are reaching a fork in the road," Christopher Hill said after arriving in the Chinese capital. The North's delegation is expected to meet the Americans directly on Monday, the South Korean official said.
"We can either go forward on a diplomatic track or you have to go to a much more difficult track. UN sanctions were imposed on North Korea after it tested a missile in July and then exploded its first nuclear device in October, leading to a wave of international condemnation.
The US envoy to the talks, Christopher Hill , said: "I hope [North Korea] understands... that we really are reaching a fork in the road.
Low hopes for talks Text of September 2005 deal North Korea nuclear timeline "We can either go forward on a diplomatic track or you have to go to a much more difficult track.
"That is a track that involves sanctions and I think ultimately will really be very harmful to the (North's) economy.""That is a track that involves sanctions and I think ultimately will really be very harmful to the (North's) economy."
Mr Hill told the BBC that that the US still had no intention of accepting North Korea as a nuclear power. Mr Hill told the BBC that the US still had no intention of accepting North Korea as a nuclear power.
But the North Korean envoy to the talks, Kim Kye-gwan, said his country needed nuclear weapons as a deterrent.
"The biggest problem is that the United States needs to change its hostile policy against North Korea," he said.
"When they change their policy from a hostile stance to one of peaceful co-existence, the problem can be resolved."
Starting point
Diplomats have previously indicated that the US may be willing to offer North Korea a security guarantee if it halts nuclear plans.Diplomats have previously indicated that the US may be willing to offer North Korea a security guarantee if it halts nuclear plans.
Mr Hill has also indicated Washington is prepared to discuss easing financial sanctions, as requested by Pyongyang.Mr Hill has also indicated Washington is prepared to discuss easing financial sanctions, as requested by Pyongyang.
href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6182621.stm" class="">Low hopes for talks href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4259176.stm" class="">Text of September 2005 deal href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2604437.stm" class="">North Korea nuclear timeline But both remain divided over the key question of the North's nuclear programme. But both remain divided over the key question of the North's nuclear programme.
North Korea walked out of the last round of talks in November last year in protest at US restrictions imposed on a Macau-based bank linked to alleged money-laundering by Pyongyang.North Korea walked out of the last round of talks in November last year in protest at US restrictions imposed on a Macau-based bank linked to alleged money-laundering by Pyongyang.
Two months earlier, in September 2005, Pyongyang had agreed to abandon its nuclear programme in return for US security guarantees and aid in a deal that was hailed as historic.Two months earlier, in September 2005, Pyongyang had agreed to abandon its nuclear programme in return for US security guarantees and aid in a deal that was hailed as historic.
The US has said it hoped to use that agreement as the basis for negotiations when talks resume. Abductions
"It'll be a very long and a very difficult week but we look forward to it because we believe that now is the time to make real progress on the ground, not just on paper," Mr Hill told reporters. Separately on Monday Japanese officials rejected claims by North Korea that Japan had kidnapped one of its citizens.
Pyongyang's official news agency said at the weekend that a North Korea linguist went missing in 1991 and was presumed to have been abducted by the Japanese.
The BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo says many in Japan will see the allegation as an attempt to counter pressure from the Japanese on the abduction of its citizens by the North.
Japan believes at least 17 of its nationals were taken in the 1970s and 1980s, and probably many more.
Pyongyang has returned five and insists the others are dead.