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N. Korea nuclear talks conclude

Parties agree to meet again 'at earliest possible date'

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Wu Dawei.

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BEIJING, China (CNN) -- The first phase of the fifth round of six-party talks focusing on North Korea's nuclear weapons program has concluded in Beijing after three days, with involved nations saying they are ready to move forward.

The parties -- China, South Korea, North Korea, the United States, Russia and Japan -- have agreed to hold the second phase of talks "at the earliest possible date," Chinese delegation head Wu Dawei said in a statement read at the closing ceremony, according to a report from China's Xinhua news agency.

In September, during the last round of talks, North Korea agreed in principle to give up its entire nuclear program, including weapons -- a landmark agreement that was announced in a joint statement. (Full story)

In return, the other five parties "stated their willingness" to provide energy assistance to North Korea, as well as promote economic cooperation and to talk about a civil nuclear energy program for North Korea at "an appropriate time."

"The parties reaffirmed that they would fully implement the joint statement in line with the principle of 'commitment for commitment, action for action,' so as to realize the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula at an early date and contribute to lasting peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia," Wu said on Friday.

Last month, North Korea said it planned to confront the United States over actions it said were "against the spirit of the Beijing Joint Statement," according to a report by the state-run KCNA news agency and carried by South Korea's Yonap agency.

The report said the United States had brought up "accusatory subjects like human rights and illegal trade in order to apply pressure on us."

North Korea wants the United States to provide light-water nuclear reactors as soon as possible to demonstrate Pyongyang's right to peaceful nuclear activities. (Full story)

But the United States says before a nuclear light-water reactor can be discussed, North Korea must abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs, return to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and abide by International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

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