Stalled N. Korea Talks Annoying Envoys

(CBS/AP)  Delegates at talks on disarming North Korea's nuclear program voiced impatience Wednesday that the negotiations remained stalled for a second day over a dispute on when $25 million of Pyongyang's funds will be released from a Macau bank.

North Korea said it would not take part in the six-party negotiations in China's capital to meet goals outlined in a landmark Feb. 13 disarmament agreement until the money was transferred.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said it was upsetting that no talks had taken place while the problem is being resolved.

"While these forms have been filled out and faxes sent and bank rules examined, while that's going on, our nuclear talks have not made progress. So there has been a real opportunity cost to this delay," he told reporters.

But he was confident North Korea was still committed to the process, having "made clear on several occasions, including yesterday, that they will live up to the February agreement."

Envoys to talks extended their meeting Wednesday in an effort to overcome the financial dispute. Host China asked representatives from the two Koreas, the United States, Japan and Russia to stay on to fine-tune ways to meet goals outlined in the Feb. 13 agreement.

"Obviously, it needs to get sorted out in a fairly timely way because we, as I've said many times, we don't want to lose these deadlines," Hill said. "We have a very good plan for 60 days, I think elements of a good plan for the next phase, so I would like to get moving on that."

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the delegates would meet later Wednesday to decide if they would continue the round.

(FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

South Korea's representative was more indignant in voicing his party's annoyance with the North's boycott: "I don't know why we should waste our time waiting for the obstacle to be cleared," said Chun Yung-woo, seen at left.

The talks have also been complicated by Pyongyang's strained ties with Tokyo.

North Korea is upset at Japan's insistence that the two nations settle issues related to Pyongyang's abduction of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and '80s before taking steps to improve relations.

Chun said the Japanese delegation was considering leaving if the situation didn't change, adding that "there is no realistic method to convince North Korea to take a practical attitude."

Planned group talks were called off on Tuesday, with some participants holding bilateral meetings instead, when North Korea said it would not take part until the money was in its account.

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[agnim]

"the north koreans are probably still laughing at us for being so stupid.
Posted by figuy30 at 12:08 PM : Mar 21, 2007"

But they are not laughing all the way to the bank s yet. LOL

Are we stupid or crooked for grabbing onto people's monies, without due process of INTERNATIONAL LAW, like we are the world bully?

If there are no international laws or states seek to ignore laws, then ANYTHING GOES as is the case among beasts in the wild. LOL

[figuy30]

when the north koreans say they won't do something again, they forget to add "until the next time". the north koreans are probably still laughing at us for being so stupid.

[figuy30]

what did anyone expect? the north koreans have always been liars. you don't make "deals" with liars. the north koreans have a pattern of dealing with anyone who will talk to them to get what they want, then later try to "deal" with them again on the same thing just to extort more money or whatever they want. the north koreans don't have any real power or the ability to sustain any power, but they lie and say they do. the north koreans are not to be trusted in any circumstance, unless, of course, you are gullible enough to believe them when they say "trust me".

[djermano1]

Do we really think they are going to give them the money? I wonder. That is alot of cash to get, then back out of the talks, to use it to keep the weapons program going.

Or another real scenario exists and that is our beloved President is actually funding N. Korea to get Nukes. Think about it..Where else can Bush test his new bunker mini nukes? Perfect place right? N. Korea. And N. Korea detonated a mini nuke. He keeps things on edge feeding this line of *** to the American public and Congress. This money thing is being manipulated to keep the mini nuke program going. Oh we will accuse them of reniging on the talks, but hey who can stop that?

And why the big ta do about N. Korea in the first place. Heck China already has nukes and N. Korea is very much supported by China.

Pyongyang is just going along with this because they have everything to gain.

[radiob-2009]

With the technology N.Korea has aquired to build the nuclear weapons and conventional weapons why are they not transfering that technology to conventional industrial production and building a economy based on consumer goods instead? Larger profits????? and they can continue to blackmail the world into agreements that favor them.This will come around again, just wait.

[krotec54]

They are a nation of liars.
they have said before they will disarm and have not.
Bush wants to make sure they really did it this time. Duh!!!
Posted by kaili3 at 07:54 AM : Mar 21, 2007

We should take our time before funds will be released to this nation. Let them run out of money and let the country collapse. China may take N. Korea, but it will cost them time and money in occupation, it will look bad for them.

[bluestardad]

Hey lets insult North Korea and send them that bastion of credibility Miss No Actionable Intelligence Condi Rice!

[karlimhof]

these *** have nuclear weapons,
Posted by kaili3


I'm more worried about israel's nukes than those n.korean firecrackers.

[kaili3]

that's it good way to stand up for your country.
what is wrong with you peope?
these *** have nuclear weapons, i dont care how much you hate bush, you better pray to God he gets this resolved before we are all dead.
and the reason why he has not transferred funds yet, is probably because they are a nation of liars.
they have said before they will disarm and have not.
bush wants to make sure they really di it this time. Duh!!!

[karlimhof]

The N. Koreans probably heard about all the money Bush promised to New Orleans - but didn't send.

They aren't taking any chances, would trust Bush when he says the check is in the mail?