Top nuclear negotiator of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Gye Gwan stressed on Saturday morning that DPRK needs light-water reactors for the eventual dismantlement of its nuclear facilities.
"To eventually dismantle the nuclear facilities, light-water reactors are needed," Kim told reporters at airport before leaving Beijing, where he had joined three-day talks together with top nuclear negotiators of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States and Russia.
The DPRK had asked for light-water reactors in previous rounds of the six-party talks, saying it was to meet the country's energy needs.
On the newly-closed talks in Beijing, Kim said the talks had "practical" and "constructive" atmosphere and the results of the talks were good.
He said the six top negotiators mainly discussed the implementation of the initial actions of the February 13 agreement and also on the next phase of talks.
"The DPRK will implement (commitments) of the September 19 joint statement and February 13 joint document, and we have made our position clear (during the talks)," said Kim, adding in future's working groups' meeting and next phase of talks, DPRK will carry out its obligations.
Kim said he had met with Japanese top negotiator Kenichiro Sasae within the framework of the six-party talks at Sasae's request and they discussed the progress of the talks and DPRK-Japan relations.
Kim warned that Japan would face disaster if Japan steps up pressure on DPRK.
"Japan is infringing upon our national sovereignty and creating a crisis by giving political pressure to DPRK, which is worse than financial sanctions," said Kim, "if Japan steps further than this, I warned that there will be a disaster."
Up to now, all the six top negotiators have left Beijing. The ROK top negotiator Chun Yung-woo also left Beijing on Saturday and had arrived at the airport before Kim.
Chun told reporters that he was satisfied with the talks in Beijing and there were a lot of things which need to be done in a month.
The closed-door talks between the six chief delegates ended on Friday morning with a schedule for the next round of negotiations, but without a disarmament deadline.
Delegates attending the meeting decided to convene in early September for another round of talks and the five working groups will meet by the end of August to discuss technical details concerning the disablement of the nuclear facilities of DPRK.
(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2007)