N. Korea, US set demands as talks end

BEIJING -- The United States and North Korea urged each other to make concessions as a round of six-nation talks aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear programs concluded yesterday with no sign of progress or a date to meet again.

The chief US envoy, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, called for North Korea to shut down a plutonium-producing nuclear reactor. North Korea's delegate insisted that Washington lift sanctions on companies accused of weapons proliferation.

There was no indication of progress toward the goal set by host China for this week's talks -- agreeing on details of how to carry out North Korea's pledge in September to give up its nuclear program in exchange for aid and a security guarantee.

The competing demands highlight the key dispute in the talks: North Korea's insistence on receiving compensation before it disarms completely, and Washington's refusal to reward Pyongyang until that goal is accomplished.

North Korea also wants a light-water civilian nuclear reactor for power generation before it disarms. But Hill said the other governments agreed that they should not even discuss that until the North's other programs are dismantled.

The talks, the fifth set in a series, began Wednesday and were due to last only three days so diplomats could attend an Asian economic forum in South Korea.