party talks. But she said this is "only a first step," adding that the real issue is to make progress in the discussions. "The issue is for North Korea to make a strategic choice to give up its nuclear program. ... The nuclear program has to be dealt with," she said. Later, Rice went to the Great Hall of the People, where she met with President Hu Jintao. The six-party process, in addition to the United States and North Korea, involves China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. A Russian foreign ministry spokesman said the North's decision was welcome news. South Korea's main nuclear negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-soon, said Sunday that the North's imminent return to the arms talks was the "fruit of the efforts" of all countries involved.
