Pyongyang boycotts six party talks on nuclear disarmament
Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – North Korea has abruptly postponed the next round of six-nation talks slated to discuss the timetable for disabling its nuclear program in Beijing starting Wednesday. Host country China on Monday notified the South Korean government that the talks ( United States, Russia, Japan, South Korea) cannot start as scheduled, adding it will consult with the participating nations on a new date.
North Korea’s reasons are unknown Some experts believe, it could be an expression of protest against an attempt by Japan, to extend economic sanctions against North Korea for another six months, despite Pyongyang’s promise to dismantle its nuclear reactors.
Others think the reason lies in the interruption in shipments of humanitarian aid to the country, hit by devastating storms in July. The consignments approved by South Korea and the United States, were interrupted by the bad weather which hit the Korean costs.
However most probably the causes lies in Pyongyang’s need to bargain for more time before the arrival of International Atomic Energy Agency Inspectors, who have yet to verify the effective dismantlement of the nuclear plants.
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