N.Korea: Deal reached in U.S. nuke talks(Hill unaware that deal had been reached)

[maddezmom]

SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea said it reached an unspecified agreement with the U.S. this week on its nuclear weapons program, but America's top nuclear envoy said Friday he was unaware of any such deal.

North Korea's Foreign Ministry said the talks between U.S. envoy Christopher Hill and North Korea's main nuclear negotiator Kim Kye Gwan had been held "in a positive and sincere atmosphere and a certain agreement was reached there." No further details were given.

But Hill, who arrived Friday in Seoul, said he wasn't sure what agreement the statement was referring to. He called the talks in Berlin "very useful discussions" and added he was pleased that it appeared the North was also positive about them.

Hill and Kim met for three days and were believed to be discussing when to convene the next session of international talks on the North's nuclear programs, among other issues. The last round in Beijing in December — held after the North conducted its first-ever nuclear test in October — ended without any breakthroughs.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070119/ap_on_re_as/koreas_nuclear

[scarletwoman]

1. Hill, you are an idiot. It's propaganda so that the North can save face.

The correct diplomatic response is, "Yes, yes! Marvelous agreement! Great progress!" Let the North peddle a pleasant fiction to give themselves cover for backing down on a belligerent, but unsustainable position.

How can an allegedly professional "diplomat" be so dense? Is incompetence an absolute prerequisite for EVERY bushco operative?

sw

[Eugene]

2. They apparently agreed to talk. Financial sanctions are on the table.

North Korea claims "progress" an a new U.S. "flexibility" in talks
that were "positive" according to this report from BBC news:

Last Updated: Friday, 19 January 2007, 12:17 GMT

'Progress' in N Korea-US talks

-snip-

The BBC correspondent in Seoul, Charles Scanlon, says the North's
statement is unusually positive.

He says the North is clearly encouraged by signs of growing flexibility
in Washington's position, just four months after it tested its first nuclear
device.

For years the US rejected demands for direct bilateral talks, but this week
Mr Hill was allowed by his government to sit down for discussions with Mr Kim.

The US is also holding direct talks with the North on the financial sanctions
it imposed in 2005, which it said at the time was a question of law enforcement
and was non-negotiable.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6277551.stm