Top U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill says North Korea has made it clear that it believes now is not the time for verification protocol.

Hill was speaking to reporters in Washington on Tuesday after attending a luncheon hosted by the Asia Society.

Hill said it is unclear, however, whether the North is waiting for the next U.S. administration before it will accept verification protocol or whether it plans to do so in phase three of the nuclear dismantlement process. He said questions as to why Pyongyang is delaying a decision on a verification protocol should be directed to the communist state.

Hill also dismissed criticism that the six-party talks have failed to yield solid results, stressing that the North has not produced one gram of plutonium since the September 2005 joint statement. He said he believes the six-party process can take some credit for such a result.

He stressed that without the six-way nuclear talks, the North would have possessed even larger amounts of plutonium.

Asked if he will continue to work for the Barack Obama administration in dealing with Pyongyang’s nuclear issue, Hill said he has not held any discussions on the subject.

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