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US asks N Korea to make decision US urges N Korea to make decision
(about 10 hours later)
The chief US negotiator to North Korea has urged Pyongyang to stop stalling and accept a deal, as six-party talks entered their final scheduled day. The chief US negotiator has urged North Korea to stop stalling and accept a deal at six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programme.
"We have put everything on the table," said Christopher Hill. "They just need to make a decision.""We have put everything on the table," said Christopher Hill. "They just need to make a decision."
The current round of talks began on Thursday with a sense of optimism and renewed determination from both sides.The current round of talks began on Thursday with a sense of optimism and renewed determination from both sides.
But negotiations faltered over the amount of energy aid the North was demanding in exchange for disarming.But negotiations faltered over the amount of energy aid the North was demanding in exchange for disarming.
The stop-start six-nation negotiations - designed to persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear programme - have now been going on for more than three years, but little progress has been made.The stop-start six-nation negotiations - designed to persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear programme - have now been going on for more than three years, but little progress has been made.
Analysts say questions are already being asked about the usefulness of continuing the talks, if there are no tangible results again this time round.Analysts say questions are already being asked about the usefulness of continuing the talks, if there are no tangible results again this time round.
The issue has become more pressing to the international community since the North conducted its first nuclear test in October.The issue has become more pressing to the international community since the North conducted its first nuclear test in October.
'Excessive demands''Excessive demands'
Delegates from the two Koreas, the US, Russia, China and Japan are now in their fifth day of talks in Beijing. Monday was technically the final day for the talks in Beijing, although in the past they have occasionally gone on after their scheduled close.
They are discussing a draft agreement, drawn up by the Chinese, under which Pyongyang would reportedly close its nuclear facilities in exchange for aid. Mr Hill told the French news agency AFP an extension was unlikely this time, saying: "It is the last day. The Chinese announced this to us and I was the first to second the motion."
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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6338941.stm">Food shortage is key class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4259176.stm">Text of September 2005 deal The one-page plan reportedly involves calls for the shutting down of Pyongyang's plutonium-producing reactor at Yongbyon within two months and the return of international inspectors, in exchange for deliveries of fuel oil within the same time-frame. However, South Korean officials later said they expected negotiations to continue into Tuesday.
Delegates from the two Koreas, the US, Russia, China and Japan are discussing a draft agreement, drawn up by the Chinese, under which Pyongyang would reportedly close its nuclear facilities in exchange for aid.
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 Food shortage is key Text of September 2005 deal The one-page plan reportedly involves calls to shut down Pyongyang's plutonium-producing reactor at Yongbyon within two months and the return of international inspectors, in exchange for deliveries of fuel oil within the same time-frame.
But over the weekend, snags appeared in the agreement, with the nations involved in the talks reportedly disagreeing over how much energy aid the North should be given.But over the weekend, snags appeared in the agreement, with the nations involved in the talks reportedly disagreeing over how much energy aid the North should be given.
Japan's chief negotiator Kenichiro Sasae said Pyongyang was making "excessive" energy demands.Japan's chief negotiator Kenichiro Sasae said Pyongyang was making "excessive" energy demands.
"Unless North Korea changes their expectations, it will be difficult to reach an agreement," he said on Sunday."Unless North Korea changes their expectations, it will be difficult to reach an agreement," he said on Sunday.
According to the Japanese press, the North has demanded two million tonnes of fuel oil - four times as much as was offered under a deal brokered in 1994.According to the Japanese press, the North has demanded two million tonnes of fuel oil - four times as much as was offered under a deal brokered in 1994.
It now appears that at least some of other five nations at the talks believe the onus is firmly on the North Koreans to agree to a deal. It appears that at least some of the other five nations at the talks believe the onus is firmly on the North Koreans to agree to a deal.
"We have put everything on the table. We have offered a way forward on a number of issues....I don't think we are going to do any more bargaining," Christopher Hill told reporters before Monday's session. "We have put everything on the table. We have offered a way forward on a number of issues....I don't think we are going to do any more bargaining," Christopher Hill told reporters.
Reaching an agreement "hangs greatly on the response, or final answer, that North Korea brings today," added Japanese envoy Mr Sasae.Reaching an agreement "hangs greatly on the response, or final answer, that North Korea brings today," added Japanese envoy Mr Sasae.
Monday is technically the final day for the talks, although in the past they have occasionally gone on after their scheduled close.
This is not likely to occur this time, however, as Mr Hill told the French news agency AFP "It is the last day. The Chinese announced this to us and I was the first to second the motion."
Mr Hill also hinted that the talks could be nearing the end of their usefulness.Mr Hill also hinted that the talks could be nearing the end of their usefulness.
"There's a certain life-cycle to these negotiations," he said. "I don't want to predict this is the last chance, but I think it is a moment that we have to see whether the DPRK [North Korea] is interested in this opportunity or not.""There's a certain life-cycle to these negotiations," he said. "I don't want to predict this is the last chance, but I think it is a moment that we have to see whether the DPRK [North Korea] is interested in this opportunity or not."