No peace treaty until N.Korea renounces nuclear arms

The United States will only agree to sign a peace treaty with North Korea if Pyongyang abandons its nuclear weapons program, a U.S. diplomat said.

Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. special envoy to North Korea, visited the country last week. During the talks, the sides agreed in principle to hold four-way discussions involving South Korea and China on a peace treaty.

Bosworth, currently in Moscow, told reporters that North Korea`s denuclearization is one of the fundamental requirements for the treaty.

On the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue, involving Russia, the two Koreas, China, Japan and the U.S., he said it remains uncertain when they can be resumed.

"As to timelines, there are no timelines... we very much want to resume this work as soon as possible."

The six-party talks came to a halt in April when Pyongyang pulled out of the negotiations in protest against the United Nations` condemnation of its missile tests.

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