5-party talks to resolve DPRK nuke impasse

This means that similar talks initially conducted by the United States, China and North Korea in Beijing in April will be expanded to incorporate Japan and South Korea, according to the US official, who asked not to be identified.

The five-way talks are certain to exert greater international pressure on the reclusive state to give up its nuclear weapons program.

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The regime ruled by Kim Jong Il is not functioning well, the UN official said, citing the country's failed economic management.

The US official said the three-party talks came after Pyongyang made concessions to Washington and Beijing despite its initial objection to the formula. He also said that there were slight signs that North Korea was inclined to accept a proposal to expand the three-way talks to include Tokyo and Seoul.

In the past, North Korea has agreed to join multilateral talks if pressured to do so by China while Japan, the United States and South Korea acted in concert, the official said.

He concluded that North Korea would likely accept the expanded talks if Japan, the United States and South Korea adopted a strong attitude toward the North during a meeting of the Trilateral Coordinatuion and Oversight Group in Hawaii on Thursday and Friday and if China conveyed that stance to Pyongyang.

Citing past cases involving North Korea, the official said the North was expected to agree to expand the three-party talks in one or two months, adding that the five-way talks would begin in August at the latest.

He also said that most agreement reached at bilateral negotiations had been broken by North Korea, emphasizing the importance of settling pertinent issues involving Pyongyang through multilateral dialogue.