N.Korea vows to end nuclear arms programme

PHILIPPINES: North Korea's foreign minister promised to abide by his country's commitment to end its nuclear weapons programme, a Philippine diplomat said.

Pak Ui Chun, who took office in May, told Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme were progressing well but gave no details.

Philippine foreign affairs spokesman Claro Cristobal said he also gave no timetable for disabling the Yongbyon nuclear reactor at the heart of the dispute.

Pak's visit is a rare overseas trip by a senior North Korean official. Late on Sunday, the U.S. embassy announced that Christopher Hill, Washington's point man on the nuclear dispute, would also be in the Philippine capital from Tuesday. It was not immediately known if he planned to meet Pak or his delegation.

Romulo told reporters the Philippines was willing to host discussions among the six parties involved in the nuclear talks since they would all be represented at the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting in Manila on Thursday.

Cristobal said Pak and Romulo discussed bilateral as well as regional and international issues, including developments on the Korean peninsula, which "did occupy a good amount of discussion between the two sides".

Manila, Monday Reuters