N.Korea N-talks end without deadline

CHINA: Arms negotiators failed Friday to set a firm deadline for North Korea to disable its nuclear facilities following the shutdown of its reactor, only agreeing to more consultations on Pyongyang’s disarmament.

Chinese envoy Wu Dawei said working groups would meet before the end of August to discuss technical details for the North’s next steps: declaring and disabling its nuclear programs.

Those sessions will be followed by a resumption of talks involving top envoys in early September to “work out the roadmap,” after which foreign ministers from all six countries will convene, Wu said.

At the latest round, the North “reiterated that it will earnestly implement its commitments to a complete declaration of all nuclear programs and disablement of all existing nuclear facilities,” he said.

Beijing, Friday, AP