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Six-party talks over North Korea remain stalled

Pallavi Aiyar

Beijing: The six-way talks in Beijing aimed at the denuclearisation of North Korea remained stalled for the second day running with Pyongyang refusing to negotiate further until it could confirm receipt of $25 million of freed funds. The delay in the release of the funds from Macau's Banco Delta Asia to a North Korean bank account in Beijing's Bank of China is supposedly due to a "technicality" though details were not forthcoming.

"This is the first time I've learned that it doesn't suffice that one party wants to send the money," South Korea's chief envoy Chun Yung-woo told reporters in Beijing after a meeting with U.S. envoy Christopher Hill.

This round was aimed at pushing forward a February 13 deal according to which North Korea accepted shutting down its main nuclear reactor within 60 days in return for economic aid and security assurances. However for two consecutive days a planned group meeting of chief negotiators has not been able to take place.

Envoys on Wednesday expressed their frustration and concern at this latest twist. "There has been a real opportunity cost to this delay," said Mr. Hill.

"If it's [the bank transfer] not resolved, I don't know why we should just waste our time waiting for the obstacle to be cleared," said Mr. Chun. Mr. Hill said he was still hopeful that the parties could keep the February accord on track.

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