The six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue entered the
fourth day on Sunday, with parties remaining divided on
compensation measures for North Korea.
"North Korea demanded too much on the compensation issue. It
will be difficult to reach an agreement if it does not reconsider
its demand," said Japanese negotiator Kenichiro Sasae on Sunday
morning.
The current situation remains severe, and it is "not optimistic
" whether an agreement will be reached, Sasae said.
Reports said the sticking point to ink a deal centers on the
volume and timing about the energy aid to North Korea.
"There is definitely one issue preventing us from sealing the
deal right now," said chief US negotiator Christopher Hill
Saturday.
Envoys from host China, North Korea, the United States, South
Korea, Japan and Russia reconvened the talks on Thursday in Beijing
in the wake of a 48-day recess.
But the talks got blocked by the energy aid to North Korea after
the negotiators held consultations on a Chinese draft, which
involves the moves North Korea will take to abandon its nuclear
program in return for economic aid and security guarantee.
The draft reportedly proposes halting within two months work at
nuclear sites in North Korea, including the Yongbyon reactor, and
supplying Pyongyang with alternative energy sources.
"It seems the chances to reach a joint statement are slim," said
Russian representative Alexander Losyukov.
"If a joint statement can not be finally reached, there will be
a chairman's statement," said Losyukov. "But that doesn't mean a
failure."
Losyukov said Saturday morning that the nuclear negotiations
will end with a two-page joint statement.
Chief South Korean negotiator Chun Yung Woo said it's
"unreasonable" to expect breakthrough on Sunday as the
consultations will continue.
The current problem is not about the "scale" of the economic aid
to be given to North Korea, but about what actions the North Korea
will take to denuclearize, said Chun.
However, Hill urged the talks to pick up pace and end on
Sunday.
"It's time to wrap up," said Hill when he left for talks Sunday
morning.
Hill declined to say what the sticking point exactly is, but
implied some issues should be discussed within working groups. "The
issue of this kind is more appropriate for experts to deal
with...... that's why we have so many working groups," Hill
said.
Hill visited National Art Museum of China at his leisure Sunday
afternoon, where an American exhibition is on display, said sources
with the US embassy in China.
(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2007)
