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North Korea declares nuclear power status, demands lifting of sanctions

America says it is running out of patience with Pyongyang

Beijing: Declaring itself a nuclear power, North Korea on Monday plunged the opening day of the six-party talks into a near-standstill by listing a set of preconditions, including lifting of all sanctions against it, before it can discuss dismantling its atomic programme.

North Korea's top delegate, Kim Kye Gwan, made the remarks in a keynote speech at an in-camera plenary session of the multilateral nuclear talks, which resumed here after a 13-month hiatus, diplomats attending the meet told reporters.

Mr. Kim urged the U.S. to abandon its ``hostile policy''as a condition for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear assets.

U.S. chief delegate Christopher Hill, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said Washington is prepared to promote the normalisation of ties with Pyongyang only if a complete and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula is achieved.

He also hinted that the U.S. is running out of patience with the Communist State.

Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, also head of the Chinese delegation, presided over the talks, which opened at 11 a.m. local time at the state guesthouse in western Beijing.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr. Wu appreciated the ``constructive'' efforts the six parties and their respective Governments have made for the resumption of talks. He stressed the issues to be discussed and settled during the fresh round of talks are ``complicated'' and ``sophisticated'', adding parties concerned are shouldering a ``glorious'' and ``arduous'' mission.

He urged parties concerned to make new contribution to the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, normalisation of diplomatic ties between the countries and building new structure for a harmonious northeast Asia.

— PTI, Xinhua

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