A senior US official reiterated in
Beijing Monday the US position on the nuclear issue of the Korean
peninsula, urging "the complete, verifiable and irreversible
dismantling of all North Korea's nuclear weapons programs."
John Robert Bolton, Under Secretary
of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, said
that only in this context, "can the US give them the insurance
consistent with what President Bush has previously said."
Bolton made the remarks during a
visit in Beijing to continue dialogues with the Chinese side on
issues of common concern.
Bolton said that the US delegate
will arrive in Beijing next week for the second round of six-party
talks, and there will be no change on the US position.
The second round of six-party talks
is scheduled to begin in Beijing on Feb. 25, attended by China, the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States,
the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan, aiming to seek
solutions to the Korean peninsula nuclear issue.
Bolton said he was "neither
optimistic nor pessimistic" about the upcoming talks, and he
thought there are "many issues to discuss" between the US and the
DPRK.
Bolton held talks with Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Zhang Yesui Monday morning, and talked with Vice Minister of
Foreign Affairs Wang Yi in the afternoon.
(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2004)