By ANITA CHANG – 1 day ago BEIJING (AP) ― A U.S. nuclear envoy said Monday that North Korea needs to make a proper declaration of its nuclear programs to revive a disarmament process that has stalled since the end of last year. North Korea was supposed to declare its nuclear programs by the end of 2007 to the five other countries involved in the talks. Pyongyang said it produced a list in November, but Washington has maintained that the information was inadequate. "We're a little stuck on the need for a complete and correct declaration," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill told reporters. The declaration was part of an October deal that also called for North Korea to disable its nuclear facilities in exchange for energy aid and political concessions, including removal from the U.S. terrorism blacklist. "I'm not too concerned about the sequencing of their obligations and our obligations," Hill said, when asked if the declaration or the removal from the terrorism list should come first. "I think the real problem is they've not yet been willing to provide a complete and correct declaration." Hill was in Beijing to make preparations for a visit by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice next week. During the Feb. 23-28 trip, Rice will also stop in Japan and attend the Feb. 25 inauguration of South Korean President-elect Lee Myung-bak. She was scheduled to meet with senior officials in all three countries to discuss the stalled nuclear disarmament process. China hosts the six-nation talks, which also includes Russia. North Korea shut down its main nuclear reactor last year. American researchers who visited the complex earlier this month reported that officials there said they've slowed the removal of fuel rods because the United States and other nations have fallen behind in supplying aid. The researchers also said Pyongyang wants the promised energy aid and removal from the terrorism list before it will provide the complete declaration.
