Nuclear talks off to cool start
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.IT DID not take long for the magnitude of Robert Gallucci's task to become evident. Mr Gallucci, the chief American negotiator, arrived at the North Korean mission on the Lake Geneva waterfront yesterday to find that his counterpart, Kang Sok Ju, was not, as promised, waiting outside to greet him.
The talks did, eventually, get under way and last night Mr Gallucci emerged to say the eight-hour meeting had been 'productive and useful'. If the opening gambit was any guide, it could be months before Pyongyang is ready to do a deal on its suspect nuclear programme. However, the two men did agree yesterday that the nuclear issue was central to US-North Korean relations.
It is nearly a year since Mr Gallucci, an Assistant Secretary of State, last met the North Koreans, and Pyongyang has used the interval to push ahead with its nuclear development.
An informed source said the Americans now want to concentrate on reducing the future threat from North Korea, leaving aside the question of how much plutonium the country already has. The US is also ready to help Pyongyang obtain light-water reactor technology, from which it is more difficult and expensive to extract weapons-grade plutonium, if it agrees to dismantle its existing reactors and reprocessing facilities.
There are broader proposals for economic aid and diplomatic recognition if North Korea submits to full international nuclear safeguards, but Washington is keen to show progress before its ally, President Kim Young Sam of South Korea, travels to Pyongyang later this month for to meet his counterpart, Kim Il Sung.
After a second day of talks at the US mission today, Mr Gallucci and Mr Kang are expected to meet next week.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments