| President Bush has authorized $25 million in energy | | | | Meanwhile, South Korea's top negotiator, Chun |
| aid to North Korea, providing up to 50,000 tons of | | | | Yung-woo, said at the talks that he is neither |
| heavy fuel oil. | | | | optimistic nor pessimistic about this stage of the |
| White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said | | | | discussions. But he added that the participants |
| Friday this aid is in response to North Korea's | | | | have the political will to reach an agreement. |
| progress on reporting and disabling its existing | | | | China was expected to issue a draft action plan |
| nuclear facilities. | | | | today setting out the disarmament steps |
| Talks are underway in Beijing among China, the | | | | Pyongyang should take by the end of the year. |
| United States, Japan, North and South Korea and | | | | Speaking to reporters Friday before heading into |
| Russia on how Pyongyang should proceed in | | | | the second day of talks, U.S. Assistant Secretary |
| disabling its nuclear facilities. | | | | of State Christopher Hill said the six parties had |
| North Korea agreed last February to abandon its | | | | yet to agree on the definition of disablement. |
| nuclear program in exchange for fuel and political | | | | The talks are scheduled to end Sunday. |
| concessions. It has already shut down its main | | | | North Korea tested a nuclear weapon last year. |
| nuclear facility at Yongbyon, and has said it would | | | | Some information for this report was provided by |
| describe all of its nuclear activities by the end of | | | | AFP. |
| the year. | | | | |