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N Korea talks stumble over cash N Korea talks stumble over cash
(about 6 hours later)
Six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme have stalled, with Pyongyang refusing to negotiate until it can access $25m in frozen funds. Talks on North Korea's nuclear plans are to continue into a fourth day after Pyongyang refused to negotiate until it received $25m in frozen funds.
The North wants the money returned from a Macau bank before it continues to hold talks on a recent nuclear deal. Delegates to the six-nation talks said discussions would resume on Thursday, after making no progress on Wednesday.
Envoys involved in the deal were due to discuss its implementation on Wednesday but no such meetings have taken place. North Korea wants the money returned from a Macau bank before it continues to discuss a breakthrough nuclear deal.
The agreement calls for the North's main reactor to be "shut down and sealed" in return for fuel aid.The agreement calls for the North's main reactor to be "shut down and sealed" in return for fuel aid.
'Good progress'
The US announced on Monday that the North Korean money would be transferred from Macau's Banco Delta Asia (BDA) to a bank in China, as Washington had completed an investigation into money-laundering, freeing up the frozen assets.The US announced on Monday that the North Korean money would be transferred from Macau's Banco Delta Asia (BDA) to a bank in China, as Washington had completed an investigation into money-laundering, freeing up the frozen assets.
Unblocking the funds was a key demand for the North in the recent nuclear deal.Unblocking the funds was a key demand for the North in the recent nuclear deal.
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
It appears that Pyongyang is unwilling to hold any more discussions until it actually receives the money, despite the fact that delegates from the other five nations are waiting in Beijing, anxious for progress. But it appears that Pyongyang is unwilling to hold any more discussions until it actually receives the money, despite the fact that delegates from the other five nations are waiting in Beijing, anxious for progress.
"I hope that the BDA issue will be resolved so that we can have a meeting of chief delegates today," Japanese envoy Kenichiro Sasae told reporters on Wednesday morning. US envoy Christopher Hill expressed his frustration at the delay.
"I can't say with confidence how long it will take for the money to be transferred as North Korea wants, or what kind of technical obstacles remain," added South Korean envoy Chun Yung-woo. "They've not completed the transfer, and until they do that the North Koreans have made clear they're not prepared to engage on the substantive discussions," he said.
Despite the hold-up in the negotiations, which have been plagued by delays since they began in 2003, the delegates involved remain confident that the initial steps of the 13 February deal can be implemented on schedule. Despite the latest hold-up, the delegates involved remain confident that the initial steps of the 13 February deal can be implemented on schedule.
China's foreign ministry reported "good progress" at the end of Tuesday's session in Beijing.China's foreign ministry reported "good progress" at the end of Tuesday's session in Beijing.
The North is expected to shut down its Yongbyon reactor within 60 days of the deal - by mid-April - in order to comply with the terms of the agreement.The North is expected to shut down its Yongbyon reactor within 60 days of the deal - by mid-April - in order to comply with the terms of the agreement.
But even if that deadline is met, there are many other potential pitfalls ahead.But even if that deadline is met, there are many other potential pitfalls ahead.
Another issue that has threatened to overshadow the talks is tension between North Korea and Japan.Another issue that has threatened to overshadow the talks is tension between North Korea and Japan.
On Tuesday, the North's official KCNA news agency accused Tokyo of seeking to sabotage the talks by repeatedly bringing up the topic of Japanese abductees - an issue which Japan insists is its first priority in building relations with Pyongyang.On Tuesday, the North's official KCNA news agency accused Tokyo of seeking to sabotage the talks by repeatedly bringing up the topic of Japanese abductees - an issue which Japan insists is its first priority in building relations with Pyongyang.
Tokyo believes the North is not being honest about the fate of its citizens who were abducted in the 1970s and 1980s to train North Korean spies.Tokyo believes the North is not being honest about the fate of its citizens who were abducted in the 1970s and 1980s to train North Korean spies.
The North has admitted abducting 13 Japanese citizens, and has returned five of them, but insists the others are dead - a claim Japan refuses to accept.The North has admitted abducting 13 Japanese citizens, and has returned five of them, but insists the others are dead - a claim Japan refuses to accept.