World

No Accord In N.Korea Missile Talks

November 3, 2000 / 7:52 AM EST / AP

The United States and North Korea ended three days of sensitive talks Friday without agreeing on a way to curb the communist country's missile program, the chief obstacle to a possible trip there by President Clinton.

Although progress was made, "significant issues remain to be explored and resolved," said a statement from Robert Einhorn, U.S. assistant secretary of state for nonproliferation.

No new talks were scheduled. The next move would be decided in Washington, the statement said.

The North Korean delegates remarked only briefly, offering no details.

"During these talks, the atmosphere was very constructive and serious," said Jung Sung Il, secretary general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry.

The dialogue over missiles are a key part of efforts to defuse the world's last major Cold War front and improve terms long-term hopes for peace in Northeast Asia.

The talks started Wednesday in a positive atmosphere after Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang last week.

Since then, both sides have refused to reveal details of the dialogue. The reticence underlines the sensitivity of the meetings, which are seen as the key that could encourage President Clinton to visit North Korea, long counted among the United States' most dangerous enemies.

It is unlikely Clinton would visit North Korea without substantive progress on the missile issue. The United States claims North Korea is the world's top exporter of missile equipment and technology to Pakistan, Iran and other nations.

A deadlock could also set back progress made since the leaders of North and South Korea met at a historic summit in June. The Korean Peninsula was divided in 1945.

Negotiators had worked on proposals that North Korea curb its missile program and allow other countries to launch its satellites in exchange for promises of U.S. help for its devastated economy.

"The talks were detailed, constructive and very substantive. They covered the full range of missile issues under consideration by the two countries, including North Korea's missile-related exports and its indigenous missile programs," Einhorn's statement said.

North Korea has repeatedly said it needed missiles to launch scientific satellites and regarded its missile program as part of its right to self-defense.

The last round of talks in July had deadlocked over the North's demand for $1 billion in compensation for stopping profitable missile exports, something the United States has so far refused.

Very little time is left to plan a presidential trip to the North. If it happens, President Clinton would be expected to make the visit this month, probably after planned trips to Brunei for a summit of Pacific Rim leaders Nov. 15-16 and then to Vietnam, an equally historic first presidential visit to a former U.S. foe.