New round of Korean nuclear talks starts

BEIJING: Envoys from six nations Monday started a new round of talks on denuclearisation of North korea.

The talks, held after a five-month suspension, focused on mechanism to verify Pyongyang's nuclear programme, and economic aid to the country, according to diplomatic sources.

Wu Dawei, head of the Chinese delegation, proposed that the talks should focus on three major issues, verification, continuous implementation of the action plan agreed upon during previous rounds of talk and thirdly, the establishment of a peace and security mechanism in northeast Asia.

"This meeting shoulders an important task to inherit the past and usher the talks into the future," Wu said, noting that the talks were facing opportunities as well as some "uncertain factors".

Before the talks began, China had bilateral meetings with the United States, Japan, Russia and South Korea, diplomatic sources added.

A vice-minister level mechanism launched in 2003, the six-party talks include China, the United States, South Korea, Japan and Russia plus North Korea.