N.Korea raises stakes on nuclear deal
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-09-21 07:00

"We will stick to the text of the Beijing statement, and I believe that we can make progress if everybody sticks to what was actually agreed to," the chief US diplomat said.

Earlier, US ally Japan rejected the demand as "not acceptable", while China said all sides should honour their "solemn political commitment" to a joint document issued at the six-nation talks Monday.

"The common statement was passed by the six parties, and I don't think that the DPRK had any misunderstanding about this common statement," said foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang.

Monday's agreement had been cautiously welcomed by world leaders as an important step toward ending the three-year stand-off, with US President George W. Bush calling it a "positive sign".

The hawkish North Korean comments appeared to be a response to Washington's portrayal of the deal as a breakthrough, and to set a bargaining position ahead of a new round of six-nation talks in November.

The on-and-off talks which opened in August 2003 brought together North and South Korea, Russia, Japan, the United States and hosts China.

In the statement of principle on Monday, North Korea said it would scrap its weapons, return to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and accept international inspectors in return for security guarantees, economic benefits and energy aid.

The statement said North Korea's demand for light-water reactors, earlier ruled out by the United States, would be considered at an "appropriate" time.

US officials insisted that would happen only after North Korea's nuclear programmes had been scrapped.

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