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U.S., DPRK ends dialogue on six-party talks

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Representatives from the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) concluded on Friday their two-day exploratory talks aiming at possible resumption of the long-stalled six-party talks on Korean Peninsular denuclearization in New York, with both sides describing the discussions have been "constructive and business- like."

Kim Kye Gwan, Vice Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), speaks to the media outside the US Mission to the United Nations in New York, July 29, 2011. Representatives from the United States and the DPRK concluded on Friday their two-day exploratory talks aiming at possible resumption of the long-stalled six-party talks on Korean Peninsular denuclearization in New York, with both sides describing the discussions have been "constructive and business-like." [Shen Hong/Xinhua]

U.S. envoy for DPRK policy Stephen Bosworth told reporters outside the U.S. Mission to the United Nations that the talks were "constructive and business-like."

"As the United States said from the beginning, these discussions were to explore the willingness of North Korea to take concrete and irreversible steps toward denuclearization. In that regard, these were constructive and business-like discussions," Bosworth said.

"The United States reiterated that the path is open to North Korea towards the resumption of talks, improved relations with the United States, and greater regional stability if North Korea demonstrates through actions that it supports the resumption of the Six-Party process as a committed and constructive partner," he told reporters.

He added that before deciding on next steps to resume the process, the United States "will consult closely with" the Republic of Korea (ROK) and other partners in the six-party talks.

DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan left the residence of the U.S. Mission to the UN earlier Friday afternoon, shortly after a working lunch with their U.S. counterparts.

He told reporters that the meeting was over and there was no joint statement.

Kim, speaking in Korean, said that the dialogue was " constructive and business-like." The two sides conducted " comprehensive" talks on issues of mutual interests, and the DPRK " would continue to have meetings with the United States," he said.

The bilateral talks came after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday invited Kim to New York for talks on the potential resumption of the six-party talks, which has been on hold for more than two years.

The talks between Bosworth and Kim were the first top level contacts between the two countries since Bosworth went to Pyongyang in December 2009.

Last Friday, ROK's chief nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac and his DPRK counterpart Ri Yong-ho held a bilateral meeting in Bali, Indonesia, during which, the two sides agreed to work to resume the six-party talks.

The six-party talks, involving China, the DPRK, the United States, the ROK, Russia and Japan, began in 2003. Six rounds of talks were held before stalling in December 2008.

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