Little Progress At Beijing Talks

N. Korea Vows To Keep Nuke Program Intact Until U.S. 'Threat' Gone

(AP)  North Korea's main nuclear envoy said Tuesday that his country won't give up its nuclear weapons until the alleged U.S. nuclear threat against the communist nation is eliminated, the first public comments from the North after eight days of negotiations.

"There certainly remain differences in opinions" between the North and the United States, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan said after a day of meetings between head delegates at the six-nation talks.

"Our decision is to give up nuclear weapons and programs related to nuclear weapons if the United States removes its nuclear threat against us and when trust is built," Kim said outside the North Korean Embassy in Beijing.

The North has alleged the United States has nuclear weapons in South Korea, a claim both Seoul and Washington deny. However, the North could also be referring to other American forces across the region, where U.S. forces have maintained a strong presence since the end of World War II.

Despite the disagreements, Kim said the North still looked to "narrow these differences as much as we can to present results."

Top envoys from all six countries on Tuesday discussed a draft of a proposed statement of principles as they struggled with North Korea's demands for what it should receive if it disarms.

As a result of the latest meeting, China proposed a new draft "that reflects a balance" of what was discussed, South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-soon said Tuesday evening. He said meetings would continue Wednesday on the proposal.

Delegates at the talks expressed frustration over the lack of progress earlier Tuesday before heading into the first meeting of all head delegates since Saturday.

Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura told reporters Tuesday in Tokyo that the talks would "take more time."

"I can't say discussions on the wording of the agreement are going smoothly," Machimura said. "North Korea continues to deny that it has a uranium enrichment program."