US denies blocking six-nation North Korea crisis talks

[Barrett808]

The United States on Thursday denied it was to blame for a diplomatic hitch that could delay six-nation North Korea nuclear talks until next year, as its point man on the crisis met South Korean and Japanese envoys.

The three allies met after South Korea urged Washington and Pyongyang to moderate their positions to allow the talks to go ahead as hoped in Beijing this month.

But the United States said for the second time in as many days that it was prepared to show up for a meeting, blaming North Korea for stalling.

"We are ready to go. North Korea has not yet agreed to a date," said State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli.

"It's not that we're standing in the way. We're ready to talk."

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