N Korea, US showing flexibility in N-dispute

SEOUL (AFP) - Both the United States and North Korea are showing flexibility in trying to settle a dispute which threatens a nuclear disarmament agreement, South Korea’s foreign minister said Tuesday.

The comments by Yu Myung-Hwan raised hopes that a mission to Pyongyang last week by chief US negotiator Christopher Hill has been fruitful.

“The US side, although nothing has changed in terms of the substance (of its demand), is showing utmost flexibility,” Yu told parliamentarians.

Asked whether the North was also exercising flexibility, Yu said, “Yes.”

Hill has reported “very substantive” talks but has given no details.

The six-nation disarmament deal is in danger of collapsing because of a dispute over verification of the North’s declared nuclear programme.

The North is bridling at a US-inspired verification plan which reportedly calls for the secretive communist state to give access to undeclared suspected nuclear facilities and to let inspectors take samples of material.