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US denies North Korean nuclear talks failed | US denies North Korean nuclear talks failed |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The US has denied that its day of nuclear talks with North Korea ended in failure, insisting that "good discussions" were had. | The US has denied that its day of nuclear talks with North Korea ended in failure, insisting that "good discussions" were had. |
Earlier, North Korea said the meeting had broken down, because the US brought "nothing to the negotiation table". | Earlier, North Korea said the meeting had broken down, because the US brought "nothing to the negotiation table". |
Officials from the two countries met in Sweden on Saturday, in the hope of breaking their stalemate. | Officials from the two countries met in Sweden on Saturday, in the hope of breaking their stalemate. |
This came just days after North Korea tested a new missile, in a significant advance on earlier tests. | This came just days after North Korea tested a new missile, in a significant advance on earlier tests. |
The meeting was the first formal working-level discussion since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met briefly at the inter-Korean border zone in June. | The meeting was the first formal working-level discussion since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met briefly at the inter-Korean border zone in June. |
Neither of the leaders was present in Sweden. Instead, initial discussions were being handled by North Korea's Kim Myong Gil and US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun. | |
They met on an island north-east of Stockholm called Lidingo, where North Korea has its embassy. | |
Who said what? | Who said what? |
On Saturday evening, North Korea's top nuclear envoy Kim Myong Gil spoke to reporters outside the embassy, saying "the negotiations have not fulfilled our expectation and finally broke off". | On Saturday evening, North Korea's top nuclear envoy Kim Myong Gil spoke to reporters outside the embassy, saying "the negotiations have not fulfilled our expectation and finally broke off". |
"The US raised expectations by offering suggestions like a flexible approach, new method and creative solutions, but they have disappointed us greatly," he added. | "The US raised expectations by offering suggestions like a flexible approach, new method and creative solutions, but they have disappointed us greatly," he added. |
He said "the US would not give up their old viewpoint and attitude". | He said "the US would not give up their old viewpoint and attitude". |
However, shortly afterwards, the US state department released a contradictory statement from spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus. | |
"The early comments from the DPRK [North Korean] delegation do not reflect the content or the spirit of today's 8.5-hour discussion," it read. "The US brought creative ideas and had good discussions with its DPRK counterparts." | "The early comments from the DPRK [North Korean] delegation do not reflect the content or the spirit of today's 8.5-hour discussion," it read. "The US brought creative ideas and had good discussions with its DPRK counterparts." |
Washington has also accepted Sweden's invitation to host more talks in two weeks' time, Ms Ortagus said. | Washington has also accepted Sweden's invitation to host more talks in two weeks' time, Ms Ortagus said. |
What was expected? | What was expected? |
Many observers saw the fresh talks as an opening move to another Trump-Kim summit. | Many observers saw the fresh talks as an opening move to another Trump-Kim summit. |
The two have held two summits so far. The first one in Singapore in 2018 resulted in a vague denuclearisation agreement which led to few concrete results. | The two have held two summits so far. The first one in Singapore in 2018 resulted in a vague denuclearisation agreement which led to few concrete results. |
The second summit in Vietnam in February 2019 ended early without any agreement. | The second summit in Vietnam in February 2019 ended early without any agreement. |
Didn't North Korea just test a missile? | Didn't North Korea just test a missile? |
Just this Thursday, North Korea confirmed it had test-fired a new type of a ballistic missile, a significant escalation from the short-range tests it has conducted since May. | |
The missile - able to carry a nuclear weapon - was the North's 11th test this year. Fired from a platform at sea, it appears to be capable of being launched from a submarine, which means North Korea could potentially launch missiles far outside its territory. | The missile - able to carry a nuclear weapon - was the North's 11th test this year. Fired from a platform at sea, it appears to be capable of being launched from a submarine, which means North Korea could potentially launch missiles far outside its territory. |
Analysts said North Korean might have been seeking to build up pressure ahead of the talks. | Analysts said North Korean might have been seeking to build up pressure ahead of the talks. |