Hill says package deal considered in nuclear talks

By Lee Chi-dong
BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Yonhap) -- Chief U.S. nuclear envoy Christopher Hill said
Tuesday that his country is pushing for a package deal on the three main agenda
items at the six-way disarmament talks under way here.

"We've come here with three goals in mind ... to complete the verification
protocol. We also want to complete the schedule of energy and schedule of
disablement," Hill told reporters as he headed to the Chinese state guest house
Diaoyutai for the second day of negotiations on denuclearizing North Korea.
"Our plan is to get all the three done," he said.
Hill was responding to a question on Seoul's assertion that the provision of
economic assistance to the North should be linked with whether Pyongyang signs a
verification protocol that sets guidelines for the inspection of its nuclear
facilities.
South Korea's top negotiator, Kim Sook, told reporters Monday night that "the
issue of economic and energy supply should be agreed comprehensively along with
the verification protocol, an important agenda (item) at the six-way talks."
China, which is hosting the talks, is expected to circulate a draft of the protocol.
Hill was guarded about its contents, only saying he has yet to review it.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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