BEIJING, Sept. 5 (UPI) — It will be hard for China to restart six-party negotiations over North Korea’s nuclear program without support from its diplomatic partners, an official said.
North Korea since 2006 conducted three tests of nuclear devices, the most recent of which occurred in February. Multilateral talks between both Koreas, China, the United States, Russia and Japan were suspended in 2009.
The China Institute of International Studies, tied closely to the Foreign Ministry, said it would hold a seminar Sept. 18 to review six-party talks, the Yonhap News Agency in South Korea reported Thursday.
Yonhap reported China’s nuclear envoy, Wu Dawei, met last week in Pyongyang with North Korean representatives. Beijing, the report said, is eager to bring its diplomatic partners back to the negotiating table.
An unidentified source told Yonhap it would be difficult for China to pursue its options without support from the international community.
“It is uncertain whether South Korea, the U.S. and Japan would send their chief nuclear envoys to the proposed meeting in Beijing,” the source said. “Under the circumstance, it is difficult for the Chinese efforts to make a significant achievement.”
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.