N Korea 'willing to scrap nuclear weapons'

North Korea would consider dismantling its nuclear weapons programme if the communist country’s relations with the US, Japan and South Korea improved, China’s envoy to Seoul said today.

“I believe that North Korea is willing to scrap its nuclear weapons,” Ambassador Ning Fukui told Park Geun-hye, leader of South Korea’s main opposition Grand National Party, according to a party press release.

Six-nation nuclear talks involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the US that began in 2003 have so far failed to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its weapons programmes.

Ning said “three keys” are needed for the North to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme, the most important of which is the establishment of mutual trust between the US and North Korea.

The other two priorities are normalising relations with Japan and improving relations with South Korea, he said.

The North has attempted to justify its nuclear weapons programme, saying it serves as a deterrent against a US attack. Washington has repeatedly said it has no intention of invading the communist country, but distrust between the two governments runs deep.

Washington in October slapped sanctions on eight North Korean companies accused of acting as fronts for sales of banned missile, nuclear or biological weapons technology.

The US also suspects North Korea of involvement in counterfeiting and money-laundering.

Pyongyang has angrily rejected those claims, as well as accusations that it produces high quality counterfeit 100 dollar bills known as “supernotes.”

South Korea’s chief nuclear negotiator said today that US sanctions against North Korea shouldn’t have any negative impact on the six-nation nuclear talks.

“As the issue of financial sanctions is not an issue related to the six-way talks, it should not be linked to (them),” Song Min-soon told reporters before leaving for China, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

Song said he would discuss holding the next round of disarmament talks on South Korea’s southern resort island of Jeju during talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, Yonhap reported.

The talks have so far only taken place in the Chinese capital, Beijing.

In September, the North agreed to abandon its nuclear programme in exchange for security guarantees and energy aid, but cast doubt on the breakthrough a day later by insisting it receive a nuclear power reactor before it disarms.

The fifth and latest session of the talks recessed last month with participants agreeing to meet again at an early, though as yet unspecified, date.

South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said the next talks could be held in January.