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(LEAD) N. Korea, regional powers differ over next phase in denuclearization process
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- North Korea and its five dialogue partners at disarmament talks are sharply divided over the concept of the next phase of the agreed-upon denuclearization process, South Korea's top nuclear envoy said Tuesday.
Kim Sook said that the six nations could not move on to the substance of the final step in the three-tier process in their latest round of negotiations in Beijing earlier this month because of the differences. Other participants are South Korea, the U.S., China, Russia, and Japan.
The six parties are on the threshold of the third and last stage after North Korea submitted last month a list detailing its plutonium-producing activities as part of second phase actions.
The secretive nation has also agreed to wrap up the disabling of its main nuclear facilities in Yongbyon by the end of October, while the other countries reciprocate by completing the delivery of fuel oil aid to the North by the same month.
"The other five nations called for North Korea to get rid of all of its nuclear weapons and programs in the third and last stage," Kim told a group of journalists in Seoul. "But North Korea claimed that one or two preliminary stages are needed before doing so."
When asked to elaborate, Kim said that North Korea asked the other parties to just "aim to dismantle its Yongyon facilities."
The envoy also emphasized the six parties need to quickly establish a verification system to check the veracity of the North's nuclear declaration which provides information on the amount of plutonium it has produced.
In return for the declaration presented on June 26, the U.S. began a 45-day process of removing Pyongyang from the its list of state sponsors of terrorism. Nations on the list are effectively barred from economic and political exchanges with the U.S.
The U.S. wants to conclude the verification protocol before Aug. 11, when the 45-day period ends. North Korea has already received the draft of the protocol but has yet to give an answer.
"It means ... at least 45 days, not maximum," Kim said. "I think it would be difficult for the delisting to go into effect unless the U.S. receives the North's approval and has a verification protocol by then."
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice earlier urged Pyongyang to sign a protocol or give up getting delisted.
"It's a 45-day minimum notification, but we certainly expect, and we're watching very carefully, to see whether or not North Korea is going to come through on the essential issue, which is verification, and to act accordingly," Rice said last week after holding a group meeting with her North Korea, South Korea, Chinese, Russian, and Japanese counterparts.
The unprecedented six-way foreign ministerial gathering aimed at discussing the nuclear issue was held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Singapore.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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