US Proposes Regional Talks On North Korea

The US government is trying to arrange a meeting of North Korea's neighbors and other regional powers in an attempt to put some pressure on Pyongyang to return to the six party talks they have refused to attend since last year.

Such a meeting could put more pressure on North Korea as the communist state refuses to rejoin the six-party talks aimed at ending its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

The move comes amid concerns the North may be preparing to test a nuclear bomb to further heighten tensions created by its test-firing of a series of missiles in July.

Chun Yung-woo, the chief South Korea nuclear negotiator, said the U.S.-proposed session would be like one that 10 countries held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the sidelines of an annual security forum in July to discuss North Korea's missile and nuclear programs.

The 10 countries consisted of all parties to the six-nation nuclear talks except North Korea — China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the U.S. — plus Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Canada and New Zealand.

"For now, the U.S. is thinking of holding a meeting similar to the one held in Kuala Lumpur," Chun said after talks with his U.S. counterpart, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill. "But not all of the related countries have responded."

The administration is trying to do what its critics keep complaining it doesn't do enough - negotiate. The problem is, of course, that one can only negotiate when they other party agrees to attend the meetings.