Posted by
Team Turk on Wednesday, November 01, 2006 4:35:35 PM
From United Press International:
The North Korean government said Wednesday its decision to resume nuclear disarmament talks was based on the United States easing economic sanctions.
North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said the country would resume talks with South Korea, China, the United States, Japan and Russia "on the premise that the issue of lifting financial sanctions will be discussed and settled."
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced the diplomatic breakthrough Tuesday, and said talks would resume soon, although a date was not set.
The U.S. sanctions were imposed on a Macao-based bank the Bush administration contends was fueling a North Korean money laundering and counterfeiting operation.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe praised North Korea's decision and China's role in getting the talks resumed after nearly a yearlong standoff, the Kyodo news agency reported.
However, asked if the talks would lead to Japan lifting its own sanctions on North Korea, Abe said "Not at all," Kyodo reported.