UPDATE: N Korea, US on second day of nuclear talks
US outgoing special representative Stephen Bosworth is surrounded by medias as he leaves his hotel on October 24, 2011 in Geneva on the opening day of a second round of rare direct talks between North Korea and the United States on how to revive six-nation nuclear disarmament talks. While analysts expect no breakthrough during the two-day meeting they see engagement between the two parties as a positive step as well as a way to stop Pyongyang from making rash moves.
Washington's chief envoy Stephen Bosworth said the second day of talks between North Korea and the United States on how to resume the stalled six-nation talks were "very positive," Yonhap news agency reports.
Bosworth and U.S. ambassador Glyn Davies met in Geneva along with Kye Gwan Kim, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister, for bi-lateral talks as to whether or not the North is prepared to take steps toward nuclear disarmament. Bosworth said more time is needed to address outstanding issues.
Washington and Seoul have openly stated Pyongyang must first stop its uranium enrichment program and allow U.N. nuclear inspectors to return before talks can resume, but the North wants unconditional resumption.
North Korea deserted the six-nation talks, which involve the United States, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea, in April 2009 and performed a second nuclear test the month after.
Nuclear envoys from North and South Korea met to see if the six-nation talks could resume in Beijing last month, but the outcome of the meeting was unclear.
Most experts doubt North Korea would ever halt its development in nuclear weapons and that a major reason the government has wished to resume talks is to have sanctions lifted from its economic aid.