Attempts to revive N Korea talks

By Chris Hogg
BBC News, Tokyo

Bilateral meetings are taking place on the sidelines of the forum

A series of bilateral meetings between countries trying to resolve the issue of North Korea's nuclear programme are continuing in Tokyo.

The meetings are taking place on the sidelines of a privately-organised security conference.

A Chinese diplomat said North Korean negotiators were showing a more positive attitude towards restarting the stalled six-party talks.

But the US negotiator said he had no plans for talks with North officials.

Christopher Hill said he would not hold face-to-face discussions with the representatives from Pyongyang at the forum because they refused to return to the six-party talks negotiating table.

'Usual script'

In public, at least, everyone is sticking to the usual script for these gatherings.

I think they know our position and I guess we know their position because I don't think anything has changed US negotiator Christopher Hill

The Chinese, after meeting their counterparts from Pyongyang, were upbeat. North Korea has shown "some" signs of positive commitment, China's chief negotiator told the press.

The South Koreans were less enthusiastic after their meeting with the diplomats from the North. "I didn't find a situation in which I have expectations and hope," their senior representative complained.

And the US chief negotiator, Christopher Hill, says he does not even want to meet the North Koreans unless they make a commitment to return to the negotiating table.

"I'm not sure there's much more I can talk to them about," he said.

'Candid exchange'

What is perhaps more important, though, is what is going on in the private forum they have all come here to attend.

We can expect some progress... We will make an effort toward a positive direction Chinese negotiator Wu Dawei

This is designed to facilitate an exchange of ideas in a more informal setting than the six-party talks. It is an opportunity to clear up misunderstandings, the organisers say, and to keep open vital channels of communication.

Those taking part include government officials, military officers and academics from the six countries involved in the official talks process.

The idea is that a candid exchange of views here may in time help make it easier for the negotiations to restart.

The North refuses to return to the six-party talks until the US lifts financial sanctions it has imposed on businesses suspected of laundering money and counterfeiting US dollars for North Korea.