S. Korea chafing at nuclear wind-down

SEOUL, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun is unhappy with the slow pace of North Korea's nuclear dismantlement, a spokesman said in Seoul Thursday.

At a scheduled news briefing, spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said Roh doesn't foresee the dismantlement of the Yongbyon facility being completed by the end of the year as mandated in an Oct. 3 agreement between North Korea and the South, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.

"China is still discussing the schedule of the next session of the six-party talks with the relevant countries," Cheon said. "The (South Korean) government wishes the talks to held as soon as possible."

However, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who recently visited North Korea, said in Beijing Wednesday such a meeting before year's end was unlikely. The U.S. State Department confirmed the assessment in a statement from Washington, citing scheduling factors.