This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6192323.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| US 'tables North Korea proposal' | US 'tables North Korea proposal' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The US is reported to have put forward a package of incentives for North Korea to end its nuclear programme, during high-level talks in Beijing. | The US is reported to have put forward a package of incentives for North Korea to end its nuclear programme, during high-level talks in Beijing. |
| The US has offered a written pledge not to attack if Pyongyang lets in nuclear inspectors, South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted diplomats as saying. | The US has offered a written pledge not to attack if Pyongyang lets in nuclear inspectors, South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted diplomats as saying. |
| South Korea's envoy confirmed a "concrete proposal" was on the table, but refused to give details. | South Korea's envoy confirmed a "concrete proposal" was on the table, but refused to give details. |
| US envoy Christopher Hill gave little away as talks entered their third day. | US envoy Christopher Hill gave little away as talks entered their third day. |
| "At this point I don't want to say I am pessimistic or optimistic. I just don't know where we are going to end up or when we are going to end up," he said. | "At this point I don't want to say I am pessimistic or optimistic. I just don't know where we are going to end up or when we are going to end up," he said. |
| He described his meeting with his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye-gwan on Tuesday as business-like, with some "healthy exchange of views". | He described his meeting with his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye-gwan on Tuesday as business-like, with some "healthy exchange of views". |
| N KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closely href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6182621.stm" class="">Low hopes for talks href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4259176.stm" class="">Text of September 2005 deal href="/1/hi/puffbox/scheduler/6193635.inc" class="">Talks absorb regional press | |
| Treasury officials from both nations also met on Wednesday to discuss Pyongyang's demands that the US lift financial sanctions imposed last year. | |
| The summit talks - which also involves China, South Korea, Japan and Russia - stalled 13 months ago after North Korea walked out in protest at the sanctions. | The summit talks - which also involves China, South Korea, Japan and Russia - stalled 13 months ago after North Korea walked out in protest at the sanctions. |
| Pyongyang only agreed to return to the table after conducting its first nuclear test on 9 October this year. | Pyongyang only agreed to return to the table after conducting its first nuclear test on 9 October this year. |
| Disarmament proposal | Disarmament proposal |
| South Korea's top negotiator, Chun Yung-woo confirmed the US had put forward a "formal, detailed and concrete proposal" to North Korea. | South Korea's top negotiator, Chun Yung-woo confirmed the US had put forward a "formal, detailed and concrete proposal" to North Korea. |
| He did not elaborate on the details, but warned that both sides were still far apart. | He did not elaborate on the details, but warned that both sides were still far apart. |
| "There has not been much narrowing of differences, but all the parties have laid the cards on the table and are discussing their priorities," he said. | "There has not been much narrowing of differences, but all the parties have laid the cards on the table and are discussing their priorities," he said. |
| The US proposal outlines a process towards the North's eventual nuclear disarmament, say unnamed diplomats, according to Yonhap. | The US proposal outlines a process towards the North's eventual nuclear disarmament, say unnamed diplomats, according to Yonhap. |
| Washington will give North Korea a written security guarantee - a pledge not to topple the regime by force - if it freezes its nuclear operations and allows UN inspectors to verify this, Yonhap reported. | Washington will give North Korea a written security guarantee - a pledge not to topple the regime by force - if it freezes its nuclear operations and allows UN inspectors to verify this, Yonhap reported. |
| Large-scale food, energy and other economic aid will follow if the North opens all its nuclear-related programmes for international inspection. | Large-scale food, energy and other economic aid will follow if the North opens all its nuclear-related programmes for international inspection. |
| The US came to the talks hoping to revive an agreement reached with North Korea in September 2005, offering a similar package of incentives. | The US came to the talks hoping to revive an agreement reached with North Korea in September 2005, offering a similar package of incentives. |
| It also agreed to consider North Korea's demand that it lift its financial sanctions. | It also agreed to consider North Korea's demand that it lift its financial sanctions. |
| The US blacklisted a Macau-based bank containing $24m of North Korea's money in September 2005, accusing it of involvement in money-laundering and counterfeiting. | The US blacklisted a Macau-based bank containing $24m of North Korea's money in September 2005, accusing it of involvement in money-laundering and counterfeiting. |
| Daniel Glaser, the treasury official leading the discussions on the sanctions, appeared to rule out an imminent resolution, saying it "has to be a long-term process". | Daniel Glaser, the treasury official leading the discussions on the sanctions, appeared to rule out an imminent resolution, saying it "has to be a long-term process". |
| South Korea's Chun Yung-Woo said the six-party talks had been due to wrap up on Thursday, but would now continue through Friday because "substantive discussions" were being held. | South Korea's Chun Yung-Woo said the six-party talks had been due to wrap up on Thursday, but would now continue through Friday because "substantive discussions" were being held. |
| Mr Hill has already said delegates should start working on a draft agreement if they hope to make any progress. | Mr Hill has already said delegates should start working on a draft agreement if they hope to make any progress. |
| Power play | Power play |
| A South Korean parliamentary report on Tuesday suggested that divisions in North Korea over the successor to leader Kim Jong-il lay behind October's nuclear test. | A South Korean parliamentary report on Tuesday suggested that divisions in North Korea over the successor to leader Kim Jong-il lay behind October's nuclear test. |
| Kim Jong-il agreed to the test to win military support for the eventual transfer of power to one of his sons, the report by the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee said. | Kim Jong-il agreed to the test to win military support for the eventual transfer of power to one of his sons, the report by the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee said. |
| "The fundamental task that North Korea has to address right now is not to overcome economic difficulties or establish diplomatic relations or a peace treaty with the US," the report said. | "The fundamental task that North Korea has to address right now is not to overcome economic difficulties or establish diplomatic relations or a peace treaty with the US," the report said. |
| Its priority is "to stabilise the North's system through completing the designing" of the next leadership, it said. | Its priority is "to stabilise the North's system through completing the designing" of the next leadership, it said. |
| The report also said the 64-year-old leader may begin the slow transfer of power to his son as early as next year. It did not say which of his three known sons it might be. | The report also said the 64-year-old leader may begin the slow transfer of power to his son as early as next year. It did not say which of his three known sons it might be. |