N Korea nuke situation 'bad'

2005-08-02 13:30

Beijing - North Korea said no progress had been made in talks on Tuesday over the dismantlement of its nuclear weapons programmes, describing the state of the negotiations as "bad".

The North's top envoy to the six-party talks, Kim Kye-gwan, said: "The talks lasted for long hours, but produced no progress.

"The situation is bad. There are some differences and confrontations over several issues. We will do our best to reach an agreement."

But, deputy chief United States envoy Joseph DeTrani said that the talks would continue into a ninth day on Wednesday.

Japan's chief delegate Kenichiro Sasae said: "The talks were conducted in an extremely tough, fierce and serious manner. The basic points of contention have not been removed."

He also said discussions would continue for a ninth day on Wednesday.

The talks had become bogged down in differences about what should be in a Chinese draft document aimed at establishing a framework to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons.

- AFP