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US envoy hopeful on N Korea deal N Korea talks finish without deal
(about 2 hours later)
North Korea could still disable its nuclear facilities by year-end despite failing to agree a deadline at talks in Beijing, the US envoy said. Talks in Beijing aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programme have ended without agreement on a deadline for the country to disable nuclear facilities.
Speaking as the talks entered a third day, Christopher Hill said he believed a year-end deadline was still possible. Negotiators wanted Pyongyang, which has already closed its main nuclear site, to agree a timetable for disclosing and disabling all its nuclear facilities.
Negotiators wanted Pyongyang, which has already closed its main nuclear site, to agree a timetable for disclosing and disabling all nuclear facilities.
But they have now agreed working groups will discuss technical details first.But they have now agreed working groups will discuss technical details first.
"Ultimately we decided not to put in deadlines yet," said Mr Hill. "We'll put in deadlines when we have the working groups and we know precisely what we are talking about." Envoys from the six countries involved in the talks will meet again in September, Chinese envoy Wu Dawei said.
But negotiators are reported to have achieved consensus on how the next stage of the deal should unfold. North Korea pledged to "earnestly implement its commitments to a complete declaration of all nuclear programmes and disablement of all existing nuclear facilities", Mr Wu said in a statement at the end of the talks.
The biggest achievement... is that North Korea clearly stated its position that it has no intention of dragging its feet Chun Yung-woo But the deadline that negotiators had hoped for was not in the statement. Instead, the working groups will meet in August to hammer out details of the way forward, he said.
"My opinion remains the same. All of this is do-able by the end of the year," Mr Hill said. 'Still do-able'
The South Korean envoy, Chun Yung-woo, was also positive. Speaking earlier in the day, US envoy Christopher Hill said that deadlines could wait.
"We'll put in deadlines when we have the working groups and we know precisely what we are talking about," he said.
N KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL N Korea to "shut down and seal" Yongbyon reactor, then disable all nuclear facilitiesIn return, will be given 1m tons 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" Q&A: N Korea stand-off Timeline: Nuclear crisis
But he said that his opinion on a timetable had not changed. "All of this is do-able by the end of the year," he said.
South Korean envoy Chun Yung-woo was positive.
"The biggest achievement of this round of talks is that North Korea clearly stated its position that it has no intention of dragging its feet in carrying out its obligations," he said."The biggest achievement of this round of talks is that North Korea clearly stated its position that it has no intention of dragging its feet in carrying out its obligations," he said.
The talks were due to finish on Thursday but extended an extra day. A chairman's statement from host China is expected later in the day.
Long process
The talks come amid cautious optimism over the progress of the deal, agreed in February 2007 with China, Russia, Japan, South Korea and the US.The talks come amid cautious optimism over the progress of the deal, agreed in February 2007 with China, Russia, Japan, South Korea and the US.
N KOREA NUCLEAR DEAL N Korea to "shut down and seal" Yongbyon reactor, then disable all nuclear facilitiesIn return, will be given 1m tons 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" Q&A: N Korea stand-off Timeline: Nuclear crisis
Under the deal, North Korea is to receive one million tons of energy aid in exchange for ending its nuclear programme.Under the deal, North Korea is to receive one million tons of energy aid in exchange for ending its nuclear programme.
As a first step, Pyongyang shut down its main Yongbyon reactor, the source of its plutonium, on Saturday and subsequently shut four more sites at the complex.As a first step, Pyongyang shut down its main Yongbyon reactor, the source of its plutonium, on Saturday and subsequently shut four more sites at the complex.
The closures have been verified by a team of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.The closures have been verified by a team of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Analysts have described the Yongbyon closures as significant, but have also warned that persuading Pyongyang to fully disclose all of its nuclear facilities could be a long and difficult process.Analysts have described the Yongbyon closures as significant, but have also warned that persuading Pyongyang to fully disclose all of its nuclear facilities could be a long and difficult process.
One hurdle is the US allegation that North Korea has a secret uranium enrichment programme. Pyongyang denies this.One hurdle is the US allegation that North Korea has a secret uranium enrichment programme. Pyongyang denies this.
Another is that once the second phase of the deal is complete, North Korea - which carried out its first nuclear test in October 2006 - will then have to hand over its nuclear materials.Another is that once the second phase of the deal is complete, North Korea - which carried out its first nuclear test in October 2006 - will then have to hand over its nuclear materials.