The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday expressed disappointment over the United States' stand in the second round of six-party talks on the nuclear issue of the DPRK that ended in Beijing on Saturday.

"The United States did not show any stand to co-exist with the DPRK but persistently pursue its policy of isolating and stifling the DPRK," a spokesman of the DPRK's Foreign Ministry told the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"We had expected that a frank discussion on ways of seeking a solution to the nuclear issue between the DPRK and the United States (in the second round of six-party talks) would open a certain prospect of settling the issue, so we showed the willingness in the talks to scrap our nuclear program according to a proposal for a simultaneous package solution aiming to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula," said the spokesman.

"But the United States again insisted on its old stand (in the talks) that unless the DPRK first abandons the nuclear program completely, verifiably and irreversibly should the Untied States discuss the issues concerned by the DPRK," he added.

He said the head of US delegation "only read the prepared script, showing no sincerity and giving no answers even to the questions raised."

"In spite of this situation we yet consented to open the next round of the six-party talks and organize a working group to seek a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue through dialogue at any cost, " said the spokesman.

"The settlement of the nuclear issue will entirely depend on the change of the United States' attitude," the spokesman said, noting that it would be "difficult to expect that any further talks would be helpful to the solution to the issue" unless such a change occurs.

The four-day second round of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue ended Saturday with all the sides agreeing on setting up a working group and on the timing of the next round.

The talks, between the United States, China, the DPRK, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, focused on the goal of realizing a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

A chairman's statement released at the end of the talks said the six parties "expressed their commitment to a nuclear-weapon-free Korean Peninsula, and to resolving the nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue in a spirit of mutual respect and consultations on an equal basis."

The six sides discussed "substantive issues," and enhanced the understanding of each other's positions. They agreed to take coordinated steps to address the nuclear issue and related concerns, said the statement.

Delegations of the six countries are expected to meet again before the end of June for the third round of talks. A working group will be set up in preparation for that.

(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2004)