Clinton and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi compared notes on the results of inter-Korean discussions in Beijing last week, which were almost fruitless, they added.
"It (the inter-Korean meeting) was a useful meeting, but clearly no breakthroughs," a senior State Department official told reporters, briefing them on the Clinton-Yang meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
The assessment came as speculation grows over when or whether the United States will hold another round of high-level talks with North Korea.
The official, speaking on the customary condition of anonymity, said Washington hopes for a greater role by Beijing in persuading its long-time communist ally to take necessary measures, including steps toward improved ties with Seoul.
"We continued to call on China to use its good offices to encourage North Korea to respond appropriately in the North-South context and also to abide by the specific criteria of the 2005 statement and also to favorably consider the pre-steps laid out by the Obama administration and our interlocutors in late July," the official said.
Informed sources said the U.S. demanded the North agree to allow the return of International Atomic Energy Agency monitors to its nuclear facilities, place a moratorium on missile and nuclear testing and abide by inter-Korean deals in place.
In Washington, the State Department`s spokesman, Mark Toner, reiterated that it has yet to confirm Pyongyang`s sincerity about denuclearization and dialogue.
"I don`t think we`ve had enough examples, enough evidence to make a decision either way," he said at a press briefing, asked about the U.S. view.
He stressed the importance of improvement in inter-Korean ties.
"I think we`re still looking for improved dialogue between North and South Korea, and certainly the onus is on North Korea to take steps in that direction. But I think the verdict`s still unclear," Toner added.
Resuming talks with North Korea in New York in late July after a 19-month hiatus, the U.S. said the aim was to see if Pyongyang is ready for serious discussions on denuclearization and bilateral relations. The New York session between Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan and Stephen Bosworth, special representative for North Korea policy, came on the heels of a rare meeting between the top nuclear negotiators from Seoul and Pyongyang.
Following the inter-Korean meeting in Beijing, some media have reported the possibility of a trip by Bosworth to Pyongyang or a meeting with Kim in a third country -- for example, Singapore or Geneva, Switzerland.
"We don`t have anything to announce," Toner said, adding the talk of the possible venue is "hugely speculative."
He confirmed that Edgard Kagan, acting deputy assistant secretary of state in charge of Korean Peninsula affairs, recently traveled to Seoul for consultations with South Korean officials. He did not elaborate on the agenda items.
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Pak Gil-yon is scheduled to deliver a speech on Pyongyang`s position on Tuesday at the U.N. General Assembly.
Yonhap-OANA/H-AK
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
