North Korea Ready to Discuss Initial Steps of Nuclear Disarmament

North Korea says it is ready to discuss initial steps of its nuclear disarmament, as six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program got underway in Beijing (today/Thursday).

North Korea's envoy to the talks, Kim Kye-Kwan, said he was prepared to discuss first-stage measures but that any moves by North Korea will be based on whether the U.S. will give up what he referred to as its "hostile policy" towards Pyongyang.

Earlier, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said he hopes North Korea will recommit to a deal reached in September 2005, when it agreed to roll back its nuclear program in exchange for diplomatic and economic incentives.

North Korea had boycotted the nuclear talks for more than a year because of U.S. financial sanctions against the state. It returned to the negotiating table late last year after conducting a nuclear test in October.

围绕北韩核项目的新一轮六方会谈星期四在北京举行。北韩表示，愿意就解除核武器的初始步骤进行讨论。

北韩谈判代表金桂冠表示，他准备好讨论第一阶段的措施，但是北韩的任何行动都要看美国是否放弃对平壤的“敌对政策”。

美国助理国务卿希尔早些时候表示，他希望北韩能重新对2005年达成的协议做出承诺。根据协议，北韩同意放弃自己的核项目，以换取外交和经济上的好处。

由于美国对北韩实行金融制裁，北韩对六方会谈抵制了一年多的时间，去年十月进行核试验后才同意回到谈判桌。