North Korea very close to turning in nuclear accounting
 

AP


WASHINGTON - A senior U.S. official says North Korea is very close to turning in a long-awaited accounting of its nuclear program — a major step toward a disarmament deal with the reclusive communist regime.

The official says that weeks of preparation with North Korea and the other nations bargaining with Pyongyang are coming to a close. Although there is no date agreed yet, the documentation is expected within the next month.

That would clear the way for a high-stakes meeting as soon as the end of June between the top U.S. and North Korean diplomats, along with the other four nations involved in a deal to put North Korea out of the nuclear weapons business.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the six-nation diplomatic consultations are confidential, says the U.S. insists it be able to verify that North Korea's documentation is complete.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A senior U.S. official says the chief U.S. envoy for North Korean nuclear disarmament talks will meet next week with his North Korean counterpart in China.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting is not officially scheduled.

State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters Friday that there is no meeting with North Korean officials on the schedule. But he says the North knows that Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill will be in Beijing from Tuesday to Thursday.

He says Hill plans to be in Moscow from Thursday to Saturday for nuclear talks with his Russian counterpart.

Casey says Hill will be briefing officials on talks he held this week with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts.