N.Korea urged to quickly return to talks

SEOUL, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- U.S.-led allies urged North Korea Saturday to return to negotiations concerning its nuclear program "without any condition and delay."

Chief nuclear negotiators from the United States, South Korea and Japan also made clear that there would be no incentives in advance to induce North Korea into rejoining the six-nation talks.

"We urge North Korea to return to the six-party talks with no further delay," South Korea's chief negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-Soon said after the meeting in Seoul.

The three allies also urged China and Russia to play a bigger role in persuading North Korea to return to the negotiating table.

"South Korea, the United States and Japan shared a common assessment that the resolution of the nuclear issue should not be delayed, without any time set, and I believe North Korea, China and Russia would share the same position," Song said told reporters.

The meeting was to discuss ways to draw North Korea back to negotiations after North Korean leader Kim Jong Il told a Chinese envoy the North might return to the six-way talks if certain conditions are met.