The six nations negotiating an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons program will Monday discuss a new proposal from host China, which chief US delegate Christopher Hill described as a "good effort" to end the deadlock.
Hill said the talks are expected to wind up Monday regardless of whether all parties can agree on the draft proposal, which aims to break an impasse over whether the communist state should be allowed to keep a civilian nuclear program if it gives up atomic weapons.
"I think it's a good deal for everybody, especially for the DPRK (North Korea), which does have a long road to travel," Hill said after huddling Sunday with his counterparts from the two Koreas, China, Russia and Japan in two short meetings during which the new draft proposal was presented. "It's a good effort to try to bridge the remaining differences," he said without giving details. "I believe it is difficult but not unsurmountable.
"I can't say at this point how it's going to end up... I don't think it is going to go much beyond tomorrow morning," Hill said.
Russian negotiator Alexander Alexeyev said an unamended draft of the so-called common document, which was put forward on Friday, includes a reference to the North's right to civilian nuclear programs.