US holds tough line ahead of N. Korea talks

The United States is maintaining a tough line ahead of another round of talks with North Korea, which officials say could hinge on how Pyongyang treats a covert uranium enrichment programme identified two years ago by American intelligence.

US officials said if Pyongyang continues to deny the program, which triggered the current nuclear controversy, six-party talks set to begin on February 25 in Beijing could collapse.

US efforts to stem the spread of weapons of mass destruction have been boosted by Libya's recent decision to abandon its nuclear weapons program and the confession by Abdul Qadeer Khan, father of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, that he sold nuclear secrets to Libya, Iran and North Korea.

In Beijing on Monday, Undersecretary of State John Bolton said Pyongyang must take the initiative next week and vow, like Libya, to scuttle its nuclear programmes.

Washington is hanging firm to its demand that the communist state completely and verifiably dismantle its nuclear programmes. Several officials said the Bush team is more unified than usual now on strategy toward North Korea.