On June 23, 2004, the Bush Administration issued a proposal at the six party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue: the first U.S. proposal since the talks began 13 months earlier. The proposal called for a three month freeze of all North Korean nuclear programs, North Korean agreement to verifiable measures to dismantle these programs, and the provision to North Korea of a security guarantee from the United States and fuel oil from South Korea and Japan. The United States also would negotiate with North Korea on other benefits to be extended when the dismantlement process was a fait accompli.