Pacific Rim leaders want more progress in talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons programmes, and an eventual deal could boost the region's economy, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said on Saturday. Speaking after a two-day summit of 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum leaders in the South Korean port city of Pusan, Roh said they had welcomed progress so far in the talks, including a September joint statement that outlines an aid-for-dismantlement package. "Moreover, the leaders urged further substantive progress in the six-party talks and in particular the faithful implementation of the joint statement under the principle of commitment for commitment and action for action," he said through an interpreter. The APEC leaders -- including U.S. President George W. Bush and China's Hu Jintao -- did not refer to North Korea or the talks in their written declaration because they do not consider that to be a matter for the forum, which mostly focuses on trade. But it did mention the need to "eliminate the threat of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery". The summit host can make an oral statement, and it can be on behalf of the other leaders if they agree. Reuters quoted regional diplomats as saying that Roh had been eager to ensure North Korea was mentioned. The six countries involved in the nuclear talks are the two Koreas, host China, Japan, Russia and the United States.
