Nuke talks: N Korea holds out a carrot

The six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue entered a crucial phase in Beijing on Thursday, with Pyongyang proposing "the comprehensive stopping" of its weapons programme.

The proposal followed South Korean chief negotiator Lee Soo-Hyuch's remarks that Russia, China and his own country were willing to provide energy aid to North Korea if that country took steps toward dismantlement.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao, who attended the second-day of the talks at the Diayutai Guesthouse, said North Korea restated its December proposal to renounce its programme and also expressed its security concerns.

"Various parties also expressed their understanding of the corresponding request of the North Korean side," Liu said.

"In the spirit of taking coordinated steps, various parties also held in-depth and pragmatic explorations on this subject," he added.

Though the talks will continue on Friday, the spokesman was unable to state whether it would be the last of the second round of the parleys among the United States, China, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and Russia.

The host of the talks and head of the Chinese delegation, Wang Yi, noted that the morning's session was substantive even though various parties still had differences. "However, the differences are gradually being narrowed down and common ground is now accumulating. Various parties should exercise patience and demonstrate flexibility and work together to overcome the difficulties and to march forward," Wang, also vice foreign minister, said.

Asked about the prospects of a joint statement at the end of the talks, Liu said it was being consulted upon at the working level. "All the parties wish to have a good document."

Though there were unconfirmed reports of a meeting between the US and North Korean negotiators, both sides were tight-lipped.