For the six-party talks, China played a critical role in putting
them together among the US, China, DPRK, ROK, Japan and
Russia when DPRK withdrew from the NPT in 2003 and the
breakdown of the Agreed Framework
•There was some progress in the fifth round of talks when
DPRK agreed to shut down its nuclear facilities in
exchange for fuel aids and steps towards normalization of
relations with the US and Japan
•However, DPRK eventually withdrew from the talks in 2009
when it was condemned by the UN for its failed satellite
launch and declared that it would resume its nuclear
program