Japanese Envoy Says no Prospect for Agreement at Six-Party Talks

日本特使说六方会谈不会达成协议

Japan's envoy to the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program says there is no prospect for an agreement during the current talks.

Kenichiro Sasae blamed North Korea for the impasse at this week's negotiations, saying its refusal to stop its nuclear weapons program before the United States lifts financial sanctions was the biggest obstacle to a breakthrough.

U.S. envoy Christopher Hill urged North Korean negotiators today (Thursday) to focus on nuclear disarmament rather than complaints about U.S. sanctions.

Hill says it is difficult to make progress on nuclear issues when North Korea is pre-occupied with U.S. financial restrictions against companies accused of illicit dealings with Pyongyang.

Nuclear negotiators from the six parties to the talks ended a fourth day of talks in Beijing today on how to implement a (September) 2005 agreement with North Korea.

参加有关北韩核武问题六方会谈的日本首席谈判代表说，目前的谈判不会在解除平壤核武器方面达成协议。

佐佐江贤一郎把本星期会谈的僵局归咎于北韩。他说，北韩拒绝在美国取消对北韩的经济制裁之前解除核武器，是会谈取得突破的最大障碍。

美国特使希尔星期四敦促北韩谈判代表集中讨论解除核武器的问题，而不是抱怨美国的制裁。

希尔说，北韩把心思放在了美国对被指控跟平壤进行非法交易的公司所进行的金融制裁上面，在这种情况下，会谈很难在核项目的问题上取得进展。

参加六方会谈的各国代表星期四结束了在北京举行的第四天会议，讨论的重点是如何落实2005年9月和北韩达成的协议。