By Xinhua
Seoul : The US chief negotiator at the six-party talks on North Korea’s denuclearisation said Friday he expects the process to be completed by 2008.
“I think that 2008 is about the time we should finish denuclearisation, and I think once it is done, we should be able to move on to economic issues,” said Christopher Hill, assistant secretary of state for Asia-Pacific affairs, in a meeting with South Korean Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung.
Hill said he hoped that South Korea would keep pace with North Korea’s denuclearisation in pursuing inter-Korean economic cooperation projects.
“First, we got to get through this nuclear problem. It’s too small a peninsula for nuclear weapons. There are so many opportunities for North Korea and the world if we can get to complete denuclearisation.” he said.
Hill is to visit North Korea Monday to discuss denuclearisation and is also expected to inspect several nuclear facilities in the country.
A dispatch from Pyongyang added: North Korea Friday said it has fulfilled its obligation on disablement of Yongbyon nuclear facilities as per the six-party agreement in Beijing.
The declaration came after a fact-finding team from the six nations concluded its mission here Thursday.
“The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) is sincerely fulfilling its commitment to disable nuclear facilities within the period agreed at the six-party talks in Beijing,” Korean central news agency reported.
“North Korea will fulfil the wishes of the US and all other parties,” it added.
The team, composed of 10 officials and experts from China, South Korea, Japan, US and Russia, visited the nuclear facilities in Yongbyon Wednesday.
The team is headed by Chen Naiqing, a Chinese diplomat familiar with the North Korean nuclear issues.
“We are satisfied with the process of disablement there (Yongbyon), and the denuclearisation process is going on smoothly,” Chen said.