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N Korea talks close to collapse N Korea talks close to collapse
(30 minutes later)
Talks on North Korea's nuclear programme appear to have broken down after its chief negotiator went to Beijing airport apparently to fly home. Six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear programme look near to breaking down after its chief negotiator went to Beijing airport apparently to fly home.
The move came after delegates at the six-nation talks made no progress. The Beijing talks have stalled after Pyongyang refused to discuss a deal to disable its nuclear facilities until it recovers $25m held in a Macau bank.
The talks have stalled over the North's refusal to discuss a deal to disable its nuclear facilities until it reclaims $25m held in a Macau bank. The transfer of the money has been delayed due to unexplained problems.
Despite the setback, delegates still hope the North will abide by the deal, which was agreed last month. US and Japanese officials have expressed frustration about the failure to make any progress.
North Korea's chief negotiator Kim Kye-gwan made no comment after he arrived at Beijing's airport. North Korea's chief negotiator Kim Kye-gwan made no comment as he arrived at Beijing's airport.
North Korea had refused to take part in this week's talks on the nuclear issue, until the Macau bank issue was resolved. Under the 13 February deal, North Korea agreed to initially "shut down and seal" its main nuclear reactor at Yongbyon by mid-April and also allow UN inspectors back into the country.
In return, Pyongyang was promised energy aid.
But Pyongyang had refused to take part in this week's talks on the nuclear issue until the Macau bank money question was resolved.
FrustrationFrustration
The US announced on Monday that the North Korean money - worth $25m (£13m) - would be transferred from Macau's Banco Delta Asia (BDA) to a bank in China, as Washington had completed an investigation into money-laundering allegations.The US announced on Monday that the North Korean money - worth $25m (£13m) - would be transferred from Macau's Banco Delta Asia (BDA) to a bank in China, as Washington had completed an investigation into money-laundering allegations.
N KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL N Korea to 'shut down and seal' Yongbyon reactor, then disable all nuclear facilitiesIn return, will be given 1m tonnes of heavy fuel oilN Korea to invite IAEA back to monitor dealUnder earlier 2005 deal, N Korea agreed to end nuclear programme and return to non-proliferation treatyN Korea's demand for light water reactor to be discussed at "appropriate time" End of confrontation? Q&A: Nuclear standoffN KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL N Korea to 'shut down and seal' Yongbyon reactor, then disable all nuclear facilitiesIn return, will be given 1m tonnes of heavy fuel oilN Korea to invite IAEA back to monitor dealUnder earlier 2005 deal, N Korea agreed to end nuclear programme and return to non-proliferation treatyN Korea's demand for light water reactor to be discussed at "appropriate time" End of confrontation? Q&A: Nuclear standoff
But this was not enough for Pyongyang, which said it wanted to have the money transferred to a Chinese account before continuing to discuss the next steps in the disarmament plan agreed in February. But this was not enough for Pyongyang, which said it wanted to have the money transferred to a North Korean account in China before continuing to discuss the next steps in the disarmament plan.
But the transfer could not happen immediately, leading to a deadlock in negotiations, and leaving the other five nations at the talks frustrated at the lack of progress.But the transfer could not happen immediately, leading to a deadlock in negotiations, and leaving the other five nations at the talks frustrated at the lack of progress.
"It's a shame to use this as a reason to not take part in negotiations for two days. It's really a waste, especially with everyone gathered there," Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, told a news conference in Tokyo."It's a shame to use this as a reason to not take part in negotiations for two days. It's really a waste, especially with everyone gathered there," Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, told a news conference in Tokyo.
The US chief envoy, Christopher Hill, also voiced his anger.The US chief envoy, Christopher Hill, also voiced his anger.
"The day I'm able to explain to you North Korean thinking is probably the day I've been in this process too long," he told reporters."The day I'm able to explain to you North Korean thinking is probably the day I've been in this process too long," he told reporters.
Teams from the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the US have been taking part in the Beijing talks.