N Korea talks 'unlikely' at Asean

Ban Ki-Moon wants to use the meeting to talk about N Korea

Hopes are fading that an Asean summit in Malaysia can kick-start negotiations on the North Korean nuclear stand-off.

Ministers from all six nations involved in talks on the North's nuclear aims will be at the meeting later this week, but officials say progress is unlikely.

Another issue dominating the meeting is Burma. Critics say a statement by delegates voicing concern over the situation is not strong enough.

The US and EU want Asean to pressure Burma into improving its democracy.

Since North Korea test-fired a number of missiles earlier this month, the need to address its nuclear ambitions has taken on an added urgency.

Asean ministers are meeting in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur

Both American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun are expected in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Together with ministers from Japan, Russia, China and South Korea, they will represent all six countries involved in the stalled talks.

"We agreed that it's necessary for the participants of the six-party talks to meet in a six-way or other formats on the sidelines of" the Asean regional forum conference, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon told reporters on Wednesday.

But the Malaysian hosts say North Korea has already signalled its unwillingness to restart the stalled talks this week, and a senior Chinese official told reporters that Beijing sees no reason for the other five countries involved to meet if North Korea refuses to participate.

'Strong message'

Meanwhile the Malaysian foreign minister has said that Tuesday's closed door meeting of Asean foreign ministers privately sent a "very strong message" to Burma urging democratic reform.

Asean has been repeatedly criticised for failing to take a tougher line against Burma - one of its 10 member nations - over the lack of democracy and continued house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

International observers were disappointed at the group's statement on Tuesday, which only called on Rangoon to show "tangible progress" .

Mr Syed Hamid said the statement may have appeared weak because it had to reflect "a compromised position in order to be acceptable to all".

But he added: "Individually, when we were having discussions, we sent a very strong signal that unless they change the pressure is going to continue and this is not good for Asean".