WORLD / Asia-Pacific
China hopes to see dispute over DPRK's funds resolved
(AP)
Updated: 2007-04-17 19:30
BEIJING - China said Tuesday it hoped that a dispute over North Korean
funds frozen in a Macau bank could be resolved and progress made on the
dismantling of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.
The North missed a deadline Saturday under a February agreement to shut
down and seal its nuclear reactor, which can produce fuel for nuclear
weapons. It said Friday that it was waiting to confirm its US$25 million
(euro18.6 million) in funds had been freed before it would make any move.
"The DPRK side still needs confirmation on the relevant questions"
concerning the financial issue, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu
Jianchao at a regular briefing, using the official name of the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea.
Washington and Macau authorities said earlier last week the funds were
free for withdrawal, but Liu said "there are still some specifics the
relevant countries are concerned about that need to be further clarified
and confirmed."
He did not give details.
The North's Foreign Ministry had said in a statement last week that a
North Korean "financial institution concerned will confirm soon whether
the measure is valid," but did not offer a timeline for the confirmation.
Liu said, however, that the views of the parties involved in the dispute
- the US, North Korea and Macau - were "coming closer," and that Beijing
hoped it would be quickly resolved.
Liu's remarks come days after China asked the United States for patience
during the nuclear talks. US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher
Hill, the top US nuclear negotiator, said over the weekend Washington was
prepared to wait a "few more days," but urged North Korea to fulfill its
promise to shut its reactor and allow nuclear inspectors back into the
country.
In exchange Pyongyang will get economic aid and political concessions.
North Korea tested a nuclear bomb in October.
South Korean news reports Tuesday said North Korea may be preparing to
shut down its main nuclear reactor, renewing hope Pyongyang will comply
with the disarmament agreement.
Yonhap news agency said the Yongbyon reactor remained in operation
Tuesday, but there was a high possibility that movement of cars and
people at the site recorded in satellite photos could be linked to a
shutdown. Yonhap cited an unnamed intelligence official in the report.
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