CHINA: Head of the Australian Diplomatic delegation to North Korea Peter Baxter says Australia is supportive of the implementation of six-party talk agreements

The leader of the Australian Diplomatic delegation to North Korea returned to Beijing on Thursday (March 15) and said Australia was supportive of implementing the six-party talk agreements and resuming diplomatic relationship with Democratic Peoples Rebublic of Korea (DPRK). Australia said on Thursday (March 15) it would resume full relations with North Korea if it makes good on a pledge to dismantle its nuclear programmes, adding it saw no signs that Pyongyang would back away from the deal. "The Australian government would be willing to support the implementation of the six-party talk agreements including by resuming our bilateral relationship with North Korea and discussing the possibility of providing bilateral assistance to North Korea in a variety of areas."Australian diplomat Peter Baxter told reporters in Beijing following a trip to the reclusive state. Australia has some diplomatic relations with North Korea but it suspended full ties in late 2002 when a previous disarmament deal fell apart amid U.S. accusations the North was cheating on the agreement by pursuing a nuclear weapons programme. North Korea tested a series of missiles last July and followed with a nuclear test in October, but it agreed last month at six-party talks in Beijing to shut down the reactor at the heart of its atomic programme in return for aid and security pledges. "The North Korea officials made it clear to me that they were preparing to shut down Yongbyon and to allow IAEA inspectors access to verify that action." Baxter said at the press conference. At the six-party talks grouping the two Koreas, the United States, host China, Japan and Russia, North Korea agreed to shut its Yongbyon reactor within 60 days in return for an initial shipment of heavy fuel oil. "They are all aware that the clock was ticking that we've now gone past the first 30 days of the 60 day period in which North Korea was required to take that action and again that they assured me as long as the other five parties meet the obligations that they made to North Korea in the six-party talks process, that they would meet the deadline and by the middle of April have sealed Yongbyon and have that verified." Baxter said. Baxter, who met with senior officials in the North Korean foreign ministry, trade ministry and agriculture ministry, said they indicated their country was committed to the deal. North Korea had proposed to send a high-level delegation to Australia next month to continue discussions on restoring full ties, Baxter said, adding that Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer had agreed to such a trip as long as Pyongyang met its commitments. Australia also banned North Korean ships from its ports last September and announced financial sanctions barring the transfer of money to North Korea by business groups suspected of having links to its nuclear or missile programmes.

ITN Source | March 16, 2007

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