The six parties involved in the Korean nuclear issue remained divided on
compensation measures for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as
the talks entered the fourth day on Sunday.
"It is encouraging throughout the four days that we have talked about energy
and we have not seen other problems arise. The goal here is denuclearization, "
said chief U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill at the end of Sunday's talks.
Envoys from host China, the DPRK, the United States, the ROK, Japan and
Russia reconvened the talks on Thursday in Beijing in the wake of a 48-day
recess.
The Republic of Korea chief negotiator Chun Yung Woo said there were only one
or two major disputes but the breakthrough was not easy.
Reports said the sticking point to ink a deal centers on the volume and
timing about the energy aid to the DPRK.
"I have met with Kim (Kim Kye-Gwan, top DPRK negotiator) before I came
here...he said he had some ideas... Mr Kim said he will think about them," chief
U.S envoy Christopher Hill told reporters after visiting an American art
exhibition at the National Museum of China at his leisure Sunday afternoon.
"There are some ideas they (the DPRK) are going to think about and respond
to. So I think we will have ideas when we have a delegation meeting later this
afternoon," Hill said.
This was the first one-on-one consultation between Hill and Kim since this
phase of talks resumed on Thursday, although they were said to have lunch
together on Friday.
Hill said he had a very "frank and honest" meeting with the head of the DPRK
delegation. He laid out for Kim what the United States has prepared to do and
not prepared.
"I think we have prepared to look at some of energy assistance because the
DPRK really needs the energy assistance but we are not looking for assistance of
that kind which somehow allows the DPRK to avoid denuclearization," Hill said.
China held several one-on-one talks with the other five parties respectively
on Sunday, according to the press center.
The chief negotiators also had an-hour-long group meeting in the afternoon,
without announcing the end of the talks.
Top Chinese envoy Wu Dawei summarized the current talks and urged more
consultations after the group meeting.
Wu once said the talks would last three or four days.
But the talks got blocked by the energy aid to the DPRK after the negotiators
held consultations on a Chinese draft, which involves the moves the DPRK 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 the DPRK, including the Yongbyon reactor, and supplying Pyongyang with
alternative energy sources.
Nevertheless, Russian representative Alexander Losyukov told reporters later
Sunday that the meeting will end on Monday with a joint statement expected to be
inked.
He said the six parties will continue tough negotiations on Monday. The talks
won't end with a chairman statement, and a joint document is expected to be
reached in the form of joint statement.
The talks won't continue on Tuesday, Losyukov said, adding that some
delegations will leave Beijing on later Monday or Tuesday.
He also expressed hope for an earlier establishment of working groups for
detailed discussions.
Japanese negotiator Kenichiro Sasae also said after Sunday's discussions the
situation was still severe, and the outcome will be clear on Monday. The DPRK's
energy demand remains the biggest sticking point.
Chief U.S. envoy also confirmed that this phase of talks would end on Monday.