By Lucy Hornby BEIJING, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Talks aimed at pressing North Korea to abandon its nuclear arms ambitions limped into a fourth day on Thursday, with dim hope of progress in a disarmament deal that was a prize for the Bush administration. Having coaxed North Korea to partly disable its Yongbyon nuclear complex this year in a disarmament-for-aid deal, envoys from five states have been asking the reclusive state to accept a protocol for checking its nuclear declaration. Agreement on verification would be a welcome diplomatic success for outgoing U.S. President George W. Bush before he gives way to President-elect Barack Obama in January. But the chief U.S. negotiator, Chris Hill, said there was no sign of agreement with Pyongyang after three days of the latest talks. South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported the negotiators would gather for more six-way talks on Thursday morning. But as he prepared to join other negotiators at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse, Hill said he was unsure of the format. "As soon as the Chinese [hosts] decide what to do, I'll let you know," Hill told reporters. He said the lack of progress reflected North Korea's unwillingness to set out its commitments in an agreement. "Obviously we would like to see progress made on this verification protocol, and so far we haven't seen that ... It's the same old problem. The North Koreans don't want to put into writing what they are willing to put into words." The six-party talks, begun in 2003, bring together North and South Korea, host China, the United States, Japan and Russia. They took on fresh urgency after Pyongyang held its first nuclear test explosion in October 2006, but have made fitful progress in curtailing its atomic ambitions. North Korea has refused proposals to allow inspectors to take nuclear samples to test its declaration, said South Korea's envoy Kim Sook, Kyodo news agency reported. Many analysts believe North Korea is in no hurry to make concessions, waiting to test Obama's intentions. (Writing by Chris Buckley; Editing by Ken Wills and Dean Yates) ((chris.buckley@reuters.com; +86-10-66271261))
Wrecked cars are seen outside a damaged building in Wudu town, Longnan city, Gansu province in this video grab from CCTV footage of November 20 released November 21, 2008. The governor ...
Korea (South)
