U.S.: N. Korea nuclear talks constructive

WASHINGTON, June 28 (UPI) -- The United States Monday described as "constructive" the six-nation talks concerning North Korea's nuclear program held in Beijing last week.

Representatives from China, the United States, Japan, Russia and South Korea met North Korean officials in the Chinese capital for the third-round of talks designed to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear program. The talks ended Saturday.

"The discussions in this round were constructive," said U.S. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli. "Several of the parties, including ourselves, South Korea and North Korea, put forward proposals on achieving our shared goal of a nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula.

Added Ereli: "Important differences remain between the parties and we are still a long way from agreement. But we believe that the serious engagement that we saw in this third round in Beijing represents progress."

A foreign ministry spokesman in Pyongyang said Monday the talks focused on "the range and period of nuclear freeze, the way of inspection and the compensation."

The spokesman, however, said the U.S. proposal for a unilateral abandonment was "unreasonably unscientific."

The six parties have agreed to meet again in Beijing in September.