| The North Korea nuclear talks in Beijing are | | | | benefits. |
| apparently snagged on the question of how much | | | | The chief U.S. negotiator, Assistant Secretary of |
| energy assistance the United States and other | | | | State Christopher Hill, said Sunday it was time to |
| nations will have to provide Pyongyang in | | | | "wrap this up and get moving." |
| exchange for initial steps toward nuclear | | | | Although Hill has not specifically identified energy |
| dismantlement. VOA's Kurt Achin has more from | | | | as the issue delaying the talks, he does say North |
| the Chinese capital. | | | | Korean demands are what is holding up a deal. "I |
| For the last couple of days, envoys to the | | | | would say the problem is North Korea wanting a |
| six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons | | | | very precise measurement of how we're going to |
| programs have said "a single issue" stands in the | | | | go forward." |
| way of a preliminary deal. | | | | In a 1994 agreement between North Korea and |
| On Sunday, senior Japanese negotiator Kenichiro | | | | the United States, Washington agreed to provide |
| Sasae revealed what that issue was. Sasae told | | | | two so-called light water nuclear reactors to the |
| reporters North Korea's "excessive demands" for | | | | North in exchange for Pyongyang shutting down |
| energy compensation were the main obstacle to | | | | its existing, older-style nuclear reactor at |
| an agreement. | | | | Yongbyon. |
| Senior South Korean negotiator Chun Yung-woo | | | | That deal failed after Washington confronted |
| says it would be "unreasonable" to expect a | | | | North Korean authorities in 2002 with evidence |
| breakthrough on Sunday. He agrees with Sasae | | | | that Pyongyang was violating the agreement. |
| that the primary dispute is over how and when to | | | | North Korea restarted the reactor in 2003, and |
| compensate North Korea. | | | | experts believe it has now produced enough |
| He says the main problem is how to tie any | | | | plutonium to make several nuclear bombs. Last |
| economic or energy aid to the speed and scope | | | | October, the North conducted its first nuclear |
| of North Korea's steps toward nuclear | | | | test. |
| dismantlement. | | | | Hill has called for patience over the past two |
| The negotiators have been working from a | | | | days, and his public comments have been less |
| proposed list of reciprocal steps, drafted earlier in | | | | pessimistic than those of his Japanese and South |
| the week by China, that would start the nuclear | | | | Korean colleagues. He says a separate dispute |
| disarmament process. | | | | with Pyongyang over U.S. financial sanctions |
| The ultimate aim is implementation of North | | | | targeting alleged North Korean illegal activities is no |
| Korea's September 2005 pledge to scrap its | | | | longer a hindrance to the nuclear talks. |
| nuclear weapons programs in return for economic | | | | China and Russia are also party to the talks, |
| and energy aid, security guarantees and diplomatic | | | | which were in their fourth day Sunday. |