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North Korean Nuclear Talks Resume
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=156DAA8:A6F02AD83191E160D9998230A2F26C5D9574F7DCC14957C0 There are signs of
progress but financial sanctions imposed on North Korea by US have
emerged as major obstacle to success There are tentative signs of
progress in the North Korean nuclear talks that have now entered their
fourth day in Beijing, but financial sanctions imposed on North Korea
by the United States have emerged as a major obstacle to success.
VOA's Kurt Achin reports from the Chinese capital.

Pyongyang is still insisting that Washington lift financial measures
against North Korean interests before Pyongyang will move ahead on the
issue of dismantling its nuclear weapons program.







Dan Glaser walks past journalists in Beijing, 20 Dec. 2006U.S.
Treasury official Daniel Glaser, who met with North Korean financial
officials on the sidelines of the nuclear talks earlier this week,
says those talks were "businesslike and useful." But Glaser says
further talks are needed before there can be any agreement between the
two sides.



"We hope to get to do that. We've discussed the possibility of meeting
next month, perhaps in New York," he said.

The dispute revolves around a bank in Macau, Banco Delta Asia, which
Washington says helped North Korea with counterfeiting and
money-laundering activities. U.S. restrictions on the bank have
resulted in a North Korean account there with $24 million being
frozen.

Thursday, amid cautious expressions of optimism, it was announced that
the nuclear talks among North and South Korea, the U.S., China, Japan
and Russia would be extended by a day until Friday.


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