South Korean chief negotiator Chun Yung-woo said on Thursday that North Korea this time demonstrated "a practical and realistic approach" in the six-party talks on the Korean peninsula nuclear issue.

 

If North Korea could stay in this "pragmatic" way, which was a significance in Wednesday's negotiation, it would be helpful for setting a specific action plan, said Chun while leaving his hotel for Thursday's six-party talks delegation head meeting in Beijing.

 

Chun said the six nations did not diverge largely on the "declaration scope" of North Korea's nuclear facilities, and that North Korea should declare all of its nuclear programs.

 

The declaration could be meaningful only on a precondition of being "precise" and "complete," he said.

 

As to the timetable for the declaration and disablement of the facilities, Chun said it's hard to say an agreement could be reached within the day.

 

He said Thursday's negotiation was probably unable to set a schedule for a foreign ministers meeting of the six nations and they would further discuss the issue in the two-day meeting.

 

He said even if they could not settle on a specific date, an approximate date might be decided before the end of the day.

 

Chun said South Korea and China would hold bilateral talks later before the second day's delegation head meeting, and that China will hold a banquet for the other five parties.

 

The six-party talks involve China, South and North Korea, the US, Russia and Japan.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 19, 2007)