Beijing:The six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue may be extendedby a day, a South Korean diplomat said here today as negotiators were unable toreach consensus on the quantum and timing of energy aid to Pyongyang fordismantling its clandestine atomic programmes.

On condition of anonymity, the official said the parties held a series ofbilateral contacts this afternoon, exchanging views in a "candid"atmosphere.

The envoys from North Koreaand the United Statesheld one-on-one consultations, sources quoted the South Korean diplomat assaying.

But the talks got blocked by excessive energy aid demanded by North Korea for its nucleardisarmament.

Diplomats say the sticking point to ink a deal centres on the volume and timingabout the energy aid to North Korea.

North Koreasays that the extra energy demand, believed to be 500,000 tonnes of fuel oil,is to directly cover the energy losses that would be caused due to suspendingthe nuclear reactor in the country's Yongbyon complex.

The demand is in addition to the two million tonnes of fuel oil per year which Pyongyang has demanded in return for implementing thepreliminary steps and two million kilowatts of electricity previously pledgedby South Korea.

Up to now, host China hasnot announced when the talks will conclude, as the six parties were attemptingto seal an agreement at the fifth day of the talks, with energy aid for North Koreastill being the sticking point.

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