US-N Korea talks hit obstacles

[papau]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/korea/article/0,2763,1030408,00.html

US-N Korea talks hit obstacles

Jonathan Watts in Beijing
Thursday August 28, 2003
The Guardian

The US and North Korea were accused of holding up international efforts to resolve their 10-month-old nuclear standoff yesterday, as delegates from north-east Asia's six main players began talks in Beijing aimed at defusing the increasingly dangerous situation on the Korean peninsula. Amid concerns that Pyongyang may test a nuclear weapon next month, the three-day meeting could be the last opportunity to prevent an escalation of the tension. .

<snip>By bringing other regional powers to the table, the US hopes to add pressure on Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons programme. But the two sides have sent middle-ranking officials to the talks, neither of whom is expected to depart from their scripts.

[papau]

1. two sides have sent middle-ranking officials - Why doesn't US Media

mention this setup for no progress - just a Bush PR for August moment-

and at least ask if this is the plan or just more Bush incompetance?

[blackcat77]

2. These are just the preliminary talks

The heavy hitters will probably get involved later. It will be real interesting to see if Bush lets Powell represent the US.

[papau]

3. Then I got conned by NK acting like theur failure meant bomb tests

Nk's act implies there are no follow on talks.

I hope you are correct and that we have Powell over there soon.