SEOUL, April 13 (UPI) -- The chief U.S. nuclear negotiator said Thursday he was ready to meet North Korea if it rejoins in the six-nation nuclear talks.
Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill also said he shunned a bilateral meeting with his North Korean counterpart during a Tokyo forum to give a strong message to Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks on the North's nuclear weapons drive.
Describing the six-way negotiations as "a very broad platform," Hill said there would be "numerous discussions" within the framework of the nuclear talks.
"I am not pessimistic about the six-party process," Hill said in a speech for members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Seoul. "The United States is absolutely committed to the six-party talks," he said.
The U.S. negotiator is in Seoul for three-days following his trip to Tokyo earlier this week to participate in the regional security forum.
Hill also urged North Korea to rejoin the nuclear talks. "I think the six-party talks are very necessary for all parties, especially the DPRK (North Korea)," he said.
In the speech, Hill also dismissed the North's demands to lift financial sanctions on the communist country, calling it "efforts to protect U.S. banking system."
North Korea boycotted the six-nation talks after the United States imposed financial sanctions on the communist country in November 2005 over its illicit activities.
