Monday, August 1 2005 14:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beijing: China has proposed a new draft of a statement by negotiators at talks on North Korea's nuclear programme, the U.S. envoy said today (August 1, 2005) after weekend discussions were snarled by the North's demands for what it should receive in exchange for disarming.

The new draft, submitted last night, "reflected all sides' modifications" to the first Chinese-written draft, said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill. He wouldn't give any details, but said, "I think the process is going forward rather well." Hill said delegates would meet today to discuss the new proposal.

The statement of basic principles is meant to lay the basis for future talks aimed at ending the three-year-old standoff over demands that the North give up nuclear development. The talks involve the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, host China and Russia.

According to South Korea's delegate, Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-soon, talks yesterday focused on a key sticking point: what steps the other governments will take in exchange for an agreement by the North to dismantle its nuclear program.

The North has demanded concessions such as security guarantees and aid from Washington before it eliminates its weapons program, while the United States wants to see the arms destroyed first. The North has also insisted that it be allowed to run a peaceful nuclear power program, something Washington objects to out of proliferation concerns.