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North Korean leader committed to talks - Russian envoy
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-13 11:17
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is committed to multinational talks on his
country's nuclear programme, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin said on
Wednesday after returning from a trip to the country.
At talks last month in Beijing -- featuring North Korea, South Korea,
Russia, Japan, China and the United States -- all sides agreed to a set of
principles for the North to dismantle its nuclear plans and receive energy and
economic aid.
However, North Korean demands for a light water nuclear reactor before it
ends its weapons programme -- unacceptable to Washington -- have prevented full
agreement.
Konstantin Pulikovsky, Putin's aide in the Far Eastern Russian region that
borders North Korea, said Kim was committed to the deal reached in Beijing.
"Kim Jong-il supported all deals reached in the course of the six-party
process. In his opinion, it is now time to talk about the actual fulfilment of
these obligations by all sides," Interfax news agency quoted Pulikovsky as
saying.
Pulikovsky, who attended Monday's celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary
of North Korea's Communist Party, said the 63-year-old North Korean leader was
in excellent health.
"He looks great, sprightly and jolly," he said.
The next round of six-party talks is scheduled for early
November.
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