North Korea Returns to Six- Party Talks, U.S. Abandons Sadr City Checkpoints
BLITZER: Just a week before the midterm election, there's a major new development in the crisis sparked by North Korea's nuclear test this month. That country now says after almost a year, it will, repeat, will return to the six-party talks on its nuclear program. CNN's Zain Verjee just spoke exclusively to the Bush administration's pointman on this crisis -- Zain.</s>ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, The U.S. and North Korea sitting down for secret talks with China really holding its hand. The results, as you know, after seven hours of major breakthrough, North Korea did a major U-turn and agreed to come back to six-party talks on its nuclear program. As you said just moments ago, we spoke exclusively to Chris Hill, the U.S. envoy in the region, who is in China. And we asked him what is it that the U.S. can bring to the table that is new and meaningful, and here's what he said.</s>CHRISTOPHER HILL, ASST. SECRETARY OF STATE: There's a lot on the table. There's especially a lot on the table for the North Koreans. And I think they realize that. You know, we've made it very clear that if they go down this route to nuclear weapons, they don't have a future, because, I'm telling you, nobody accepts them as a nuclear power. On the other hand, if they would get off that road, and onto the road of implementing this September '05 agreement, I think there's a lot there. So I think the real trick is to get that stuff implemented, to make it real. And in making it real, I think we could make some progress.</s>VERJEE: He also says that North Korea had placed new conditions on coming back to talks. North Korea had said before that it wasn't going to be coming back to the talks until the U.S. lifted financial sanctions that had been slapped on North Korea for illicit activities like alleged money laundering and drug smuggling. Chris Hill also says that talks should happen by the end of the year, by December, hopefully in China. He described the talks really as being all business. He just got straight to heart of the matter. There was a declaration back in September of 2005, Wolf, where North Korea agreed to end its nuclear program in exchange for security and economic guarantees. And that's really going to be something that will be the basis of starting talks. At the same time, the U.S. has made it very clear that it will continue to push ahead with enforcing a U.N. Security Council resolution that basically hits North Korea for sanctions with its nuclear tests. Chris Hill earlier today was sounded a note of caution as well, saying that it's not time yet to break out the cigars or the champagne. Wolf?</s>BLITZER: Good advice from Chris Hill, dealing with North Korea is never easy and I wouldn't a anticipate this is necessarily going to be the breakthrough all of us would like.</s>ZAHN: But it is time to break out Jack Cafferty. And he is here, back with more of "The Cafferty File."</s>CAFFERTY: There you go, thanks Paula. The question this hour is with a week to go, what can the Republicans and Democrats do to win over the undecided voters? Some of what you have written us is as follows. Joel from Vancouver, Washington writes: "What Democrats can do between now and the election is shut John Kerry up. Every time he opens his mouth, he drags the party down another notch or two. Is he on Karl Rove's payroll or is he just tactless?" Elizabeth in Raleigh, North Carolina: "Jack, the Democrats are going to win over the undecideds because Republicans and this president have nothing to offer the voters. Case in point, Bush's comments about Kerry today. A blind man could tell Bush is desperately trying to change the subject from his failures to John Kerry's stupid jokes." Mary in Tennessee: "The Democrats would be wise to remind everyone those wonderful tax cuts that the Republicans love to chant on and on about have been financed by China." Nice to know we had to borrow the money so we could save the richest people in this country so much money in taxes. Mary in Duluth, Georgia writes: "Being a real estate broker, I have learned when it's time to just be quiet. The Democrats should do just that." And Jack writes, from Pennsylvania: "The Democrats would have to intercept an incoming ICBM with their teeth. And the Republicans would have to be seen helping a little old lady cross the street without taking her Medicare card away from her." If you didn't see your e-mail here, you can go to CNN.com/CaffertyFile, where you can read more of these online.</s>BLITZER: Now some of our viewers think, Jack, that what John Kerry should have simply said, you know what, I made a mistake. I screwed up the joke. I wanted to have the joke at the expense of the president. It came out at the expense of the U.S. military. Apologize for that. Let's move on, instead of letting this situation sort of escalate this quickly.</s>CAFFERTY: Well, we're probably helping it escalate. We're probably making a little more out of it than was actually there to begin with.</s>ZAHN: But, it's interesting to me that John Kerry didn't even mention his own military record in great detail until the second time he came out today, the news conference wasn't as detailed, and say, hey, look, I served and fought for my country.</s>BLITZER: He was really stung by the Swift Boaters last time. I think he really wanted to come out swinging this time.</s>CAFFERTY: Well, it seems to have backfired on him, didn't it?</s>ZAHN: ... a couple of opportunities...</s>CAFFERTY: Well, listen, it's tailor-made for the media. We get so sick and tired of, you know, running sound bytes of the candidates that when somebody comes along and does something that's even this much out of ordinary, we pounce on it like cats on a mouse and drag it around until it's dismembered on the living room floor.</s>ZAHN: Will it be dismembered by election night is the question, Jack Cafferty.</s>CAFFERTY: If we have our way with it, it will be.</s>BLITZER: I'm sure there'll be something else that will pop up between and probably an hour from now.</s>CAFFERTY: One can only hope.</s>ZAHN: Thanks, Jack. Still ahead, it's Halloween. Did you know that?</s>CAFFERTY: I've been told.</s>ZAHN: Are you soaping windows tonight?</s>CAFFERTY: Somebody asked if my costume was death warmed over in one of the earlier hours.</s>ZAHN: That's not nice. Well, I spy with my little eye a Halloween prank at the White House briefing room. Jeanne Moos will have the details live from CNN Election Headquarters in New York. You're in the SITUATION ROOM.