‘U.S. in no hurry for food aid to N. Korea’

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― The United States will not rush to make a decision on either food aid for North Korea or further high-level talks, officials said Thursday amid expectations of progress in efforts to start full-scale nuclear negotiations.

Robert King, the U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights, started discussions Wednesday in Beijing with North Korean officials over the possibility of food aid, which Washington formally describes as “nutritional assistance.”

The North is represented by Ri Gun, director general for North American affairs at North Korea’s foreign ministry. The King-Ri talks are to continue through Friday.

“There will be no decision made tomorrow. He (King) has to come back and report and we have to look at what he has to say,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said at a press briefing.

The U.S. is seeking assurance that food assistance will reach those in need, not the military. While Pyongyang is apparently demanding its staple food, rice, Washington prefers the delivery of vitamin supplements or high-protein biscuits that have less chance to be diverted to the military.

“Let’s let him (King) finish and then we will see where we go,” Nuland said.

Diplomatic sources said a deal in the Beijing meeting may pave the way for another round of high-level talks between the sides before the end of the year. North Korea and the U.S. had two rounds of meetings in July and October aimed at resuming the six-party nuclear negotiations.

In Beijing, Glyn Davies, Washington’s top envoy on Pyongyang, said the U.S. will have internal discussions on the timing and venue next year.

“I have to report to the Secretary of State (Hillary Clinton). I think I will have a chance to see her on Monday and discuss matters with other officials in the United States government,” he told reporters after meeting with senior Chinese officials.

“And from there we’ll see where we head, and what the pacing might be, where these meetings could happen,” he added. “On the third round of talks, I don’t want to get ahead of myself. Maybe I will get a crystal ball for Christmas, but I don’t have one yet, and so I can’t predict the future... The ball is very much in North Korea’s court.”