China issues draft of verification protocol

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with circulation of draft deal)
By Lee Chi-dong
BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Yonhap) -- China issued a draft agreement Tuesday on ways to
inspect North Korea's nuclear facilities, as senior envoys began their second day
of talks here, South Korean delegates said.

The related parties will review the draft and deliver their positions to China,
which chairs the fitful negotiations, for modification if needed. Its contents
remains undisclosed.
''We will need to focus our discussions on the verification issue,'' South
Korea's main negotiator Kim Sook told reporters earlier in the day.
Outlining verification methods in a six-way written agreement is the number one
goal in this week's talks also involving the U.S., Russia, and Japan, the first
session in five months, Washington and its allies say. But North Korea claims
discussions on the promised energy aid for it should be a top priority.
Seoul's envoy said Monday night that the two issues are connected, pressing the
North to agree on the verification plan if it wants to receive the remaining
450,000 tons of heavy oil.
Chief American negotiator Christopher Hill also said, "We've come here with three
goals in mind. To complete the verification protocol is very important. We also
want to complete the schedule of energy and the schedule of disablement," Hill
told reporters on Tuesday morning. "Our plan is to get all the three done," he
said.
This round of talks is scheduled to end on Wednesday but envoys say it may be
extended.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)