BEIJING - Talks on North Korea's nuclear program - which have dragged on this week with little success - will likely take a recess, an official close to the talks said Thursday.

US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, right, walks through a hotel lobby with Victor Cha, the US National Security Council's director for Asian Affairs, before heading to six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program, in Beijing Thursday March 22, 2007. [AP]

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The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks, said there was a "high possibility" the negotiations will recess because some delegations have to leave Beijing.

The six-party talks were to have ended Wednesday, but were extended after Pyongyang refused to take part for two days because of problems over the transfer of North Korean funds in Macau bank.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said North Korea's chief nuclear envoy Kim Kye Gwan was likely leave Beijing later on Thursday.