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| One issue 'key' at N Korea talks | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear programme are entering a fourth day in Beijing. | |
| At stake is a draft agreement under which Pyongyang would reportedly close nuclear facilities in exchange for aid. | |
| The chief US negotiator Christopher Hill said the dispute over the draft had now come down to a single issue, but he did not say what it was. | |
| "We are down to one main issue which I think we can get through" said Mr Hill. "It may take another day or two." | |
| Disputes over what aid Pyongyang would get for disarming are preventing a deal, according to unnamed officials close to the talks. | |
| But reports say progress has been made at the talks between North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the US. | But reports say progress has been made at the talks between North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the US. |
| 'Twists and turns' | |
| "The discussion focused on what the five countries would do in the process of North Korean denuclearisation," chief Japanese delegate Kenichiro Sasae said after Saturday's discussions. | |
| 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 | 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 |
| "There are differences of opinion among the five nations, but there are greater differences between the five nations and North Korea," the envoy added. | "There are differences of opinion among the five nations, but there are greater differences between the five nations and North Korea," the envoy added. |
| Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a news conference that "fairly big differences" still existed between the parties. | Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a news conference that "fairly big differences" still existed between the parties. |
| "We do expect to see good progress although we are still likely to face twists and turns," Mr Qin was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. | "We do expect to see good progress although we are still likely to face twists and turns," Mr Qin was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. |
| 'A long day' | 'A long day' |
| Chinese officials drafted their outline plan after Pyongyang agreed to take initial steps towards disarmament. | Chinese officials drafted their outline plan after Pyongyang agreed to take initial steps towards disarmament. |
| 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. | 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. |
| In return, the US and South Korea would provide oil and other aid within the same time-frame. | In return, the US and South Korea would provide oil and other aid within the same time-frame. |
| The BBC's James Reynolds, in Beijing, says the fact the six parties are considering a draft agreement will be seen by many as a step forward. | The BBC's James Reynolds, in Beijing, says the fact the six parties are considering a draft agreement will be seen by many as a step forward. |
| It is certainly a change from the last round of talks held in December, in which no progress was made at all, our correspondent says. | It is certainly a change from the last round of talks held in December, in which no progress was made at all, our correspondent says. |
| Optimism | Optimism |
| Part of the reason for the renewed optimism, after years of stop-start negotiations, is the progress made at recent talks between the US and North Korea in Berlin. | Part of the reason for the renewed optimism, after years of stop-start negotiations, is the progress made at recent talks between the US and North Korea in Berlin. |
| Washington is reportedly showing an increased willingness to sit down and discuss North Korea's demands to lift financial sanctions. | Washington is reportedly showing an increased willingness to sit down and discuss North Korea's demands to lift financial sanctions. |
| Meanwhile, North Korean officials recently told visiting US delegates that Pyongyang would take the first steps to disband its nuclear programme in return for 500,000 metric tons of fuel oil and other benefits. | Meanwhile, North Korean officials recently told visiting US delegates that Pyongyang would take the first steps to disband its nuclear programme in return for 500,000 metric tons of fuel oil and other benefits. |
| Reports that the North is enduring a winter food crisis have emerged in recent weeks, a fact which is thought to have changed the dynamics in the run-up to the talks. | Reports that the North is enduring a winter food crisis have emerged in recent weeks, a fact which is thought to have changed the dynamics in the run-up to the talks. |