Six-nation nuclear talks extended for one more day
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-18 15:06

Hill said he was making frequent calls to Washington, and added Sunday that he had spoken more than once with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Rice was planning to contact foreign ministers of nations involved in the talks, Hill said.

He praised the Chinese for trying to bridge the differences between the six countries, but said Washington could not accept a vague statement of principles that would leave tough issues for later.

"We cannot create ambiguities at this stage that would cause confusion in the future," he said. "We're not going to get there by papering over these differences and kicking the can down the road."

Tokyo's envoy said earlier that none of the participants, including Japan, was completely happy with China's proposal.

Negotiators were "working up to the last minute," said Kenichiro Sasae, director of the Asia and Oceania Bureau at Japan's Foreign Ministry.

The North has been offered economic aid, security guarantees from Washington and free electricity from South Korea in exchange for dismantling its weapons program. Pyongyang has demanded it be given a light-water nuclear reactor for generating electricity before disarming, promising to open such a facility to co-management and international inspections.

Washington has insisted the North cannot be trusted with any nuclear program, given its history of pursuing atomic bombs.

In the North's only public comments at the talks, spokesman Hyun Hak Bong on Friday reiterated Pyongyang's insistence that it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against what it says is a threat from the United States.

Close

Hu concludes North American trip Sculpture exhibition to mark the war victory Children of migrant workers receive education in Guiyang

Today's Top News     Top China News
Six-nation nuclear talks extended for one more day         President Hu concludes trip in Canada         China sets up new oil group to meet demands         Summit endorses watered-down UN reform         Mainland population below 1.37 billion by 2010         Music giants sue Baidu over music downloads	Last ditch attempt for agreement at nuke talks       President Hu concludes trip in Canada       State councilor: China should stick to family planning policy       Year of France concluded in Beijing       China's North Korea proposal hits snags       Int'l media highlight Hu's speech at UN summit