US, Japanese and South Korean diplomats discuss NKorea nuclear situation

(14 Aug 2003) 1. US Secretary of State Colin Powell arriving at State Department and walking from car to entrance 2. Japanese and South Korean delegates arriving and entering State Department 3. Japanese and South Korean delegates leaving State Department and getting into vehicle surrounded by press STORYLINE: US, Japanese and South Korean officials met in Washington DC on Wednesday to forge a united front demanding that North Korea dismantle its nuclear weapons programme. The talks at the State Department also involved discussions on conciliatory steps the allies might take. US Secretary of State Colin Powell has already offered to put in writing assurances that the Bush administration does not intend to attack North Korea. A State Department spokesman, Tom Casey, said the 90-minute meeting reflected a joint desire for a verifiable and irreversible termination of North Korea's nuclear programme. He said the talks would continue over dinner and might extend into Thursday. Casey did not say whether the meeting produced any joint proposals. The three governments were preparing for negotiations with North Korea that are due to begin on August 27 in Beijing. China and Russia will also take part in the six-nation talks. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...