U.S. experts on Korean affairs predict that a resumption of the six-party nuclear talks in the near future is very unlikely.

The head of the Washington-based Korea Economic Institute, Jack Pritchard, predicted that China’s attempts to jump-start the talks could come up short.

Pritchard said that ailing North Korean leader Kim Jong-il could die at any time and that plans for succession have yet to be set. He said that due to this, Pyongyang is placing an emphasis on maintaining its regime through nuclear weapons rather than discussing an end to its nuclear program with international parties.

Michael Green, a scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says that the talks would most likely not be resumed in the near future, even if the U.S. and China agree to resume the multilateral dialogue. He said Washington appears determined not to accept Pyongyang’s demand that sanctions be lifted in return for talks.