Japan Minister Doubtful on Nuclear Talks Despite US Envoy's North Korea Trip

Jun 22, 04:46 AM

Current Headlines: Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo

Tokyo, June 22 Kyodo - Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso expressed doubts on Friday about the early resumption of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programmes, despite positive signs, including a visit to Pyongyang by top US nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill.

Commenting at a news conference on the visit by Hill and the planned trip to North Korea next week by officials from the UN nuclear regulatory body, Aso indicated that he doubts the developments would "immediately lead" to the resumption of the talks.

Aso noted that while North Korea has invited the International Atomic Energy Agency to send officials, following the transfer of frozen North Korean funds out of a Macao bank to Russia, it has yet to confirm that it has received all the funds.

The multilateral talks involve North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.

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