A South Korean Foreign Ministry official confirmed Wednesday that the meeting between the South´s Wi Sung-lac and the North´s Ri Yong Ho had started at the private Chang An Club in the middle of Beijing. He declined to give his name, citing ministry rules. [break]
The nuclear envoys met two months ago in Indonesia for the first time in more than two years, raising hopes that the six-party talks — which also include China, the United States, Japan and Russia — will resume soon.
North Korea walked out of the nuclear negotiations in 2009 but in recent months the impoverished country has repeatedly expressed its willingness to rejoin the talks aimed at dismantling its nuclear weapons program in return for international aid and other concessions.
Wednesday´s talks are likely to focus on what kind of preliminary measures the North must take before the six-party talks can resume, South Korean officials said ahead of the meeting.
South Korea and U.S. officials have demanded the North halt its uranium-enrichment program, freeze nuclear and missile tests and allow international nuclear inspectors back into the country. North Korea wants the talks to resume immediately without any preconditions.
One sticking point has been South Korea´s desire for North Korea to demonstrate it is sincere about disarmament and take responsibility for two deadly attacks last year.
Last year, North Korea shelled a South Korean front-line island, killing four, and allegedly torpedoed a South Korean warship, killing 46.
During a visit to Russia last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il reportedly suggested the North could be open to halting nuclear production and testing if the six-party talks resume.
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