Seoul downplays expectations of US-NKorea talks

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) A senior South Korean official reportedly is downplaying expectations for a rare direct meeting between North Korean and American officials next week.

Media reports say the official thinks the meeting is unlikely to produce a major breakthrough in the standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear program.

President Barack Obama's special envoy, Stephen Bosworth, is to travel to Pyongyang on Dec. 8 to discuss restarting the six-nation talks aimed at disarming the North. It would be the first one-on-one talks between Pyongyang and Washington since Obama took office in January.

Yonhap news agency quotes the unidentified official as saying the prospect of achieving a major outcome from the dialogue was "dim for now." The official says there's no sign that Pyongyang will return to the negotiating table.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-29-09 0203CST | save this article / add to your favorites list