Rice Tells N. Korea To Verify Its Nuclear Dismantling

SINGAPORE — Secretary of State Rice pushed North Korea yesterday to accept terms to verify the dismantling of its nuclear weapons program, as the two countries held cabinet-level talks for the first time in four years.

Ms. Rice told Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun that his nation must move quickly to prove it has told the truth about its past atomic activities if it wants to improve ties with America and North Korea's immediate neighbors and end its international isolation.

"We didn't get into specific timetables, but the spirit was good because people believe we have made progress," she said after the meeting on the sidelines of an Asian security forum in Singapore.

"There is also a sense of urgency about moving forward and a sense that we can't afford to have another hiatus," Ms. Rice said of her talks with Mr. Pak and the foreign ministers of the other four nations involved in the effort — China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea.

The chief U.S. negotiator, Christopher Hill, said Washington wants the verification plan put in place around August 10. The actual process will take months.

In a brief, one-on-one exchange, Ms. Rice reminded Mr. Pak of the importance America places on verification and also on North Korea resolving the issue of Japanese citizens it abducted in the 1980s, Mr. Hill told reporters after the 80-minute meeting.

Diplomats had expected Mr. Pak to present at least an initial response to the four-page proposed "verification protocol" that was given to North Korea this month after it delivered a declaration containing details of its nuclear program in June.