North Korea nuclear disarmament talks, resuming today after a hiatus of more than a year, will probably fail to yield an agreement because the U.S. and North Korean positions are too far apart, analysts said. North Korea has boycotted the six-nation talks since November last year, saying it wants the U.S. to lift financial sanctions imposed because of allegations of money laundering and counterfeiting by North Korean companies. North Korea tested its first nuclear bomb Oct. 9.
The test adds to pressure on the U.S. to reach an agreement, after mounting criticism of the Bush administration over the war in Iraq, a nuclear accord with India, Iran's nuclear program, and the Republican Party's loss during the mid-term elections.