Six-party negotiators arrive in Beijing

United States top negotiator Christopher Hill arrives in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 26, 2007. Hill was here for the second-phase meetings of the sixth-round six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue, to be started on Sept. 27. (Xinhua Photo)

Delegates to the six-party talks on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula have begun streaming into Beijing. They are scheduled to meet until Sunday.

The chief US negotiator Christopher Hill arrived in Beijing following a visit to Japan, where he said the DPRK could disable its nuclear program by the end of this year.

US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said, "I think we will continue to be in very close consultation in the days, weeks, and months ahead, and so if we can be successful by the end of this year in getting disabling and full declaration, then we can move on to what I hope will be the final phase next year, which is the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

Delegates from the DPRK, the ROK, and Russia have already arrived in the Chinese capital.

The top ROK envoy outlined the goal for this round of the talks.

ROK chief envoy Chun Yung-Woo said, "The disclosure and disablement are on a road no one has travelled down before. This is why making a road map is so important and difficult. The Republic of Korea will do its best to achieve results during the talks this time."

The negotiators are expected to discuss concrete steps toward the full disclosure and disabling of the DPRK's nuclear facilities during the 4-day talks.

Under a February 13th agreement, the DPRK agreed to close down its main nuclear reactor, then declare and eventually dismantle all its nuclear programs.

In return, the country will receive nearly one million tons of heavy fuel oil, or the monetary equivalent in other aid and assistance.

The DPRK has already shut down its main nuclear reactor in July.