N Korea hardens stance ahead of nuclear talks

SEOUL - Six-party talks on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programmes open on Tuesday in Beijing with Pyongyang having hardened its stance on its right to have a civilian programme -- a key sticking point in the discussions.

The talks among the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States headed into a recess on August 7 after failing to settle even on a statement of principles during 13 days of discussions in Beijing.

Since then, North Korea has stepped up its rhetoric on what it says is its inherent right to a peaceful nuclear programme and delayed the original late-August date for restarting the talks.

Officials from the other parties say a peaceful nuclear programme should be considered, if at all, after North Korea builds up trust with the international community. For now, they fear such a project could be misused to make atomic weapons.

The other parties to the talks say the top priority -- and the key to earning trust -- is to have North Korea dismantle its nuclear weapons programmes completely, verifiably and permanently. The North says it already has nuclear weapons.

"The peaceful use (of nuclear programmes) is not the biggest issue at the talks. The biggest issue is whether North Korea will clearly commit itself to abandoning its nuclear weapons programmes and other nuclear programmes completely," said a Japanese delegate to the six-party talks.

North Korea sees things differently.

It has said it will press ahead with plans for a civilian nuclear programme, and US objections could harm the talks, which this time are set to last a week but could continue longer.

"Nobody should expect the DPRK to waive its right to peaceful nuclear activity," an official commentary said. The North's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

A senior Russian diplomat told Interfax news agency the six parties "have never been so close" to reaching a deal.

Yet that optimism is not universal, and analysts note failure to make progress at this set of talks could lead to pressure to refer the matter to the UN Security Council.

North Korea declared in February it had nuclear weapons. It left the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in January 2003.

- REUTERS