The six-nation talks, aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear program, have been held since August 2003 and involve Russia, South and North Korea, the United States, China, and Japan. The sixth round of six-nation talks is to open March 19 in Beijing following a breakthrough deal in February, when Pyongyang agreed to shut down its reactor, allow UN inspectors back to its nuclear sites in exchange for aid and other incentives
"With the current state of affairs [in the solution of the North Korea nuclear problem], it is absolutely premature to speak about a ministerial meeting," said Alexander Losyukov, who heads the Russian delegation at the six-nation talks.
Losyukov said the implementation of measures for the first two-month stage of North Korea's nuclear disarmament is being delayed because the issue of Pyongyang's accounts in a Macau bank has not been resolved.
Although the United States has unfrozen North Korea's accounts with the bank, the reclusive Communist regime has yet been unable to receive money, Losyukov said.
"This stage is being delayed because there is no objective solution of the problem with the Macau bank and, correspondingly, North Korea cannot receive oil," Losyukov said.
The deputy foreign minister said extra time and means will be required, if the first stage of North Korea's nuclear disarmament is not implemented on time.
