Go to:    Key players around the globe Since 2003, the United States, North Korea, South Korea, China, Japan and Russia have held three rounds of talks aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons development in return for economic and diplomatic rewards. Little progress was made and North Korea pulled out of a scheduled fourth round in September 2004. The following is a look at the six nations involved in the talks, the stance they've taken on North Korea's nuclear program and what's at stake for each country.