North Korea talks falter

last updated 8 January 2015

Beijing

The six-nation talks on ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons program deadlocked this week over whether to allow light-water nuclear reactors. U.S. negotiator Chris Hill said North Korea suddenly upped the ante by demanding to keep such reactors, which could have military as well as civilian energy uses. North Korean negotiator Kim Kye Gwan, for his part, contended that the U.S. was unwilling to allow his country to pursue a peaceful nuclear program. Both sides, though, said a compromise was still possible and that they would continue the talks after a three-week break. The 13 straight days of negotiations was the longest run yet in four rounds of nuclear talks.