Envoys to six-party negotiations on the North Korean nuclear crisis gathered in Beijing yesterday ahead of working-level talks aimed at finding ways to break the impasse, but chances of a breakthrough appeared slim.
Neither Pyongyang nor Washington, the two protagonists in the standoff over North Korea's nuclear programs, showed any sign of preparing to budge from their deeply entrenched positions during the inaugural talks to pave the way for higher-level meetings.
Some analysts said the George W. Bush administration had no intention of making compromises before presidential elections in November and that communist North Korea, sensing that, would stick to its guns.
US special envoy Joseph DeTrani was to consult with his counterparts from South Korea, Japan, China and Russia before the closed-door talks, which open today and are expected to last several days, an embassy spokeswoman said.
The nuclear crisis erupted in October 2002 when US officials said communist North Korea had disclosed it was working on a secret program to enrich uranium for weapons in violation of an international agreement.
Pyongyang then pulled out of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, expelled UN inspectors and took a plutonium plant out of mothballs.
North Korea wants compensation to give up its nuclear ambitions, with a deal for a freeze as a first step, while the US wants Pyongyang to agree to complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement.
"We have stated many times that the US will not provide rewards or inducements to North Korea for compliance with international obligations and commitments," the US spokeswoman said.
The working-level talks follow two inconclusive rounds of higher-level talks in February and last August in Beijing and precede a third round scheduled to take place by the end of June.
Observers say the goal is to start a more technical discussion at which the sides can clarify their positions.
"Right now, the issue is how to truly remove mutual mistrust," said Shen Jiru, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences of the positions of Washington and Pyongyang.
"But I'm afraid it won't be easy to resolve this problem in a short time... because both sides are always taking a zero-sum attitude," he said. "This in itself is a form of mistrust."
Kim Kwang-yong, of Hanyang University in Seoul, said North Korea was setting its sights on dealing with new negotiating partners after the November US elections.
"Clearly, North Korea thinks John Kerry is a figure that is easier to negotiate with," he said.
North Korea agreed to take part in the meeting after its reclusive leader, Kim Jong-il, made a rare visit to Beijing last month when he was quoted as telling Chinese leaders that North Korea would be patient, flexible and engaged in six-party talks.
But on Monday, the North made a trademark step of cranking up tough rhetoric before negotiations.
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