December 9, 2003	Tuesday	Shawwal 14, 1424

WASHINGTON, Dec 8: The United States is working with its Asian allies and Russia on a draft statement offering North Korea security guarantees in exchange for giving up its nuclear weapons programme, the White House said on Monday.

The statement, an attempt to get a second round of talks with North Korea under way, is likely to come up in discussions on Tuesday between the US and Chinese delegations.

President George Bush is to meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, whose country would be the host of six-party talks involving North Korea.

The United States, China, South Korea, Japan, and Russia are seeking a resumption of talks with North Korea by the end of the year after an inconclusive round last summer, but many officials believe they may not resume until January or February.—Reuters