The United States is running out of patience with North Korea's refusal to give up its nuclear weapons, the US envoy to disarmament talks said Monday as he warned the reclusive nation its future was at stake. "There have been lots of damages to the six-party process. There have been too many delays," Christopher Hill told reporters, summarizing the US position he put forward at the six-nation forum on North Korea's atomic program.
"I made the point … we should be a little less patient, pick up the pace and work a little faster."
Hill said he had told the North Korean envoy in Monday's talks that his nation faced a crucial decision as to whether it would continue with its nuclear program following its first-ever atomic test on October 9.
"We have come to a very important juncture … we are at the fork on the road. But I can't tell you which road the DPRK (North Korea) is going," he said.
"For the DPRK, their future is very much at stake. The future of most of the other countries are not at stake. I think the US will go on, China will go on, but for the DPRK it is a very fundamental question."
Hill did not elaborate on what he meant by North Korea's future being at stake.
The North has repeatedly said it went nuclear because it feels threatened by a "hostile" US policy against it.
Hill said he expected to hold a bilateral meeting with the North Korean delegation on Tuesday.
The six-nation talks — involving the two Koreas, the United States, host China, Japan and Russia — resumed on Monday in Beijing after a 13-month hiatus.
They are aimed at convincing North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program.
Source: Agence France-Presse
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