DPR Korea: Annan hails resumption of talks on nuclear programme, urges early meeting

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has repeatedly called on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to return to the six-party talks seeking to resolve the issue of its nuclear programme, today hailed news of their resumption and called for an early meeting.

The talks between China, the DPRK, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States have been going on sporadically in Beijing for several years. The last meeting was almost a year ago.

In a statement issued by his spokesman Mr. Annan welcomed the announcement that China, the DPRK and the United States have agreed to a resumption of the talks.

“He hopes the talks can be reconvened soon, and that they will yield positive results leading to lower tensions in the region,” the statement said.

Since the DPRK reported carrying out its first nuclear test earlier this month, both Mr. Annan and the Security Council have called on the country to return to the talks. On 14 October the Council unanimously adopted a resolution imposing sanctions for the test and calling on the DPRK “to return immediately to the Six-Party Talks without precondition.”