U.S. Urges China to Press North Korea in Talks

The United States today urged China to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program without receiving a reactor for nuclear power.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said the issue had put the six-nation talks in a stalemate.

North Korea has been offered economic aid, security guarantees from Washington and free electricity from South Korea in exchange for bowing to demands that it give up the weapons program.

“I hope China will feel a certain responsibility to convince [North Korea] to take that deal,” Hill said this morning before heading to a meeting with the Chinese delegation.

Japan, Russia and South Korea are also participating in the talks.

China is North Korea’s last major ally and its leading supplier of food and energy aid. Beijing had earlier called for all sides to seek compromise.

Hill said he also would meet with the South Korean and Japanese delegations, but had no scheduled meetings with the North Koreans.

No progress was made during meetings Thursday, participants in the talks said.

The head of Japan’s delegation, Kenichiro Sasae, called the situation “extremely difficult” and said the negotiations were at a deadlock.