North Korea Talks Said to Move Forward

China has proposed a new draft of a statement prepared by negotiators at talks on North Korea’s nuclear program, the U.S. envoy said today, after weekend discussions were snarled by the North’s demands.

The new draft, submitted late Sunday, “reflected all sides’ modifications” to the first Chinese draft, said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill. He wouldn’t give any details, but said, “I think the process is going forward rather well.”

The statement of basic principles is meant to lay the basis for future talks to end the standoff over the North’s nuclear weapons program. The talks involve the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, China and Russia.

According to the South Korean delegate, Sunday’s talks focused on what steps the other governments would take in exchange for an agreement from the North to dismantle its nuclear program.