N Korea won't accept complete dismantling of nuke programme

In a statement issued outside the North Korean embassy in Beijing, foreign ministry official Park Myong-kuk expressed frustration at the US hardline stance but pledged to push on with six-nation talks in the Chinese capital.

"We had expected the US to talk differently about what kind of reciprocal measures the US and related countries will take if we freeze our nuclear program," said Park, a member of the North's delegation at the working group meeting, which entered its third day Friday despite the apparent stalemate.

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"But the US repeated the same position as at the previous talks that discussions (on compensation) are possible only when we commit ourselves to CVID (complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement)."

He called the US demand "the kind of humiliating measure that can only be imposed on a country defeated in a war".

The row over North Korea's nuclear program has been deadlocked since October 2002, when Washington said the Stalinist state had broken a 1994 nuclear freeze by launching a secret weapons drive.

The early morning statement followed warnings by China that "major" differences remain on solving the 19-month-old standoff and underscored remarks by Russia's envoy on Thursday that chances of a breakthrough soon were remote.

Prior to the talks, Pyongyang had reiterated a demand that it be rewarded, politically and economically, for giving up its nuclear program, while the US government had ruled out any immediate pay-off.

Washington wants a clear-cut commitment from the North for a "complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement" before any compensation can be considered.