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Pyongyang Reportedly Rebuffs Washington Again

Despite a U.S. official`s insistence that no new offer of direct talks had been made to Pyongyang, South Korea`s vice foreign minister confirmed reports that the United States had offered one-on-one talks with North Korea on the Stalinist nation`s nuclear program, but was rejected by the dictatorship. Efforts to restart disarmament talks have gained greater urgency in recent weeks, as Western leaders and North Korea`s neighbors leaders worry about a potential North Korean nuclear weapons test following the North`s decision to test launch seven missiles in July despite even the objections of Pyongyang ally China.

During a news briefing, South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said, "I understand that Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Hill made such a gesture on his own initiative in an effort to resume" six-nation talks on the North`s nuclear program. However U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the process reiterated that America would only talk with North Korea as part of meetings including other countries.

Talks between North Korea, South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States were last held in November, when negotiators for the countries failed to reach an agreement on implementing an agreement reached the previous September in which North Korea initially pledged to give up its nuclear program and weapons development in exchange for financial aid and security guarantees from the United States.