Report: North Korea, U.S. talks successful

PYONGYANG, North Korea, June 12 (UPI) -- North Korean officials Thursday termed as "successful" the technical talks in Pyongyang with U.S. officials on North Korea's nuclear disarmament.

The talks on disabling North Korea's nuclear facilities under the six-party agreement were held with Sung Kim, Korea expert at the U.S. State Department, who has since returned to Seoul, Yonhap news agency reported.

"The negotiations were successful," a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as telling the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

The six-party talks among the United States, Russia, China, Japan and the two Koreas are stalled over North Korea providing a declaration of all its nuclear assets that can be verified and be acceptable to the other members.

In return for North Korea's total nuclear disarmament, the other countries have agreed to provide substantial economic aid and political help.

"The discussions were on technical matters related to completing the disabling of our nuclear facilities and subsequent political and economic incentives," the North Korean spokesman was quoted as saying.