| U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said | | | | Downer paid tribute to what he termed the |
| Tuesday she would not put a time limit on | | | | vigor of China's efforts to restart the |
| talks to end North Korea's nuclear program, | | | | talks, and suggested that China, which has |
| but that the onus is on Pyongyang now to | | | | long been North Korea's main aid provider, |
| produce some results. The Chinese-sponsored | | | | has become as frustrated as other |
| six-party talks are due to resume in Beijing | | | | participants by Pyongyang's defiant posture: |
| next Monday after a break of more than a | | | | |
| year. VOA's David Gollust reports from the | | | | "The fact that China has supported two |
| State Department. | | | | Security Council resolutions, not least |
| | | | Security Council resolution 1718 which |
| The Chinese-sponsored six party talks have | | | | imposed sanctions on North Korea - if you'd |
| been underway, in fits and starts, since 2003 | | | | have asked me three years ago whether I |
| with little to show in terms of concrete | | | | thought China would do that, I think I would |
| results. | | | | have suspected they wouldn't," said Alexander |
| | | | Downer. "So there has been quite a |
| While dismissing the idea of setting a | | | | constructive and dramatic evolution of |
| deadline for a final agreement, Secretary of | | | | Chinese diplomacy in terms of dealing with |
| State Rice says it is time for North Korea to | | | | the North Korean issue, not least of course |
| demonstrate its commitment to an accord, | | | | egged on by the missile testing and the |
| especially after its nuclear test in October | | | | nuclear testing this year." |
| that drew U.N. sanctions. | | | | |
| | | | Pyongyang said it would return to the talks |
| "I don't think anyone would ask us that we | | | | at the end of October, only days after being |
| set a firm deadline by which if we can't do | | | | hit with the U.N. sanctions package that |
| this then the talks end," said Condoleezza | | | | among other things bans exports to North |
| Rice. "But I do think there is an expectation | | | | Korea of military technology, and luxury |
| in the international community that these | | | | goods favored by the communist country's |
| talks are not for the sake of talks, that | | | | leaders. |
| indeed North Korea needs to - particularly | | | | |
| after its nuclear test - needs to demonstrate | | | | The six-party talks, including Russia, Japan |
| that it is in fact committed to | | | | and South Korea as well as the United States, |
| de-nuclearization." | | | | North Korea and host China produced a |
| | | | statement of principles for an agreement in |
| Rice spoke at a news conference capping a | | | | September 2005 but broke down only two months |
| day-long meeting of top U.S. and Australian | | | | later. |
| foreign affairs and defense officials that | | | | |
| focused on Asian regional security issues | | | | Under that framework, North Korea agreed to |
| including Pyongyang's nuclear program. | | | | abandon its nuclear ambition in exchange for |
| | | | aid and security guarantees from the other |
| Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer | | | | parties. In her comments here, Rice called it |
| said he agreed with Rice that talks for the | | | | a full program of incentives including |
| sake of talks are pointless, and that it is | | | | increased political contacts with Pyongyang |
| time for some results. | | | | perhaps leading over time to normal |
| | | | relations. |