'Differences remain at N Korean nuke talks'

"Precisely because there are some differences, difficulties and contradictions, it is necessary to continue with the talks process," Wang Yi was quoted as saying in a Foreign Ministry statement.

Six-party talks over North Korea's nuclear program have showed conflicting signs after Washington said results were positive but the North accused its old foe of blocking progress with "a hostile policy."

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Diplomats say the talks will continue Saturday.

Meanwhile, the United States refused to back down from its hardline stance on North Korea's nuclear weapons programme yesterday as six-party talks were extended an extra day with top envoys struggling to find a compromise.

Washington's apparent refusal to give any ground followed a North Korean offer to disarm if the US takes a "corresponding" measure, while in the same breath slamming its foe's intransigence.

The Stalinist regime insists it must be compensated before abandoning its nuclear program while the US insists that North Korea act first.

In developments that could influence the talks, the New York Times reported Friday that Pakistan may have helped North Korea test a plutonium-based nuclear device in 1998.

Citing former and current US intelligence officials, the paper said clues emerged following underground nuclear tests carried out by Pakistan in May 1998, in which Pyongyang possibly provided the plutonium.

If confirmed it would strongly suggest that North Korea can not only produce plutonium but also build a weapon it has claimed it possesses, the daily said.

In a sign that all six sides -- China, the two Koreas, Russia, Japan and the United States -- are at least willing to continue looking for a way out of the impasse, the Beijing talks were extended into Saturday, their fourth day, South Korean delegation spokesman Shin Bong-Kil said.

Delegates yesterday convened to examine the North's nuclear freeze offer and a joint South Korean, Chinese and Russian plan to offer energy aid in exchange.

The aid would most likely involve fuel shipments which were cut in late 2002 after the US said North Korea had admitted having an uranium enrichment program and was trying to build nuclear weapons.

The talks Friday involved a "continuation of the dialogue process", said a Japanese delegation statement, adding that views were exchanged on future six-nation talks and the establishment of working groups.

South Korean officials said talks were also held on a joint statement.

At the very least, host China wants all sides to issue a joint document setting out what has been achieved so far.

Despite US Secretary of State Colin Powell characterising the first two days of talks as "promising" and moving in the "right direction," the US embassy in Beijing took a tougher line, and insisted no inducements would be offered.

"The US goal remains the complete, irreversible and verifiable dismantling (CVID) of North Korea's nuclear programmes, including both the DPRK's plutonium and uranium program," an embassy spokeswoman told AFP.

"Our objective in the six-party process is to achieve complete verifiable irreversible dismantlement. The US will not provide North Korea with rewards and inducements for complying with its international obligations and commitments."