US chief delegate Christopher Hill said in Beijing late Thursday that bilateral talks with North Korea went into a "standoff".

 

"There wasn't much progress today", Hill told reporters at hotel.

 

Hill said major "disagreement" exists between US and North Korea. "North Korea has a whole new concept," he said, noting that the previous four drafts of common document didn't include the light-water reactor issue.

 

Hill also made clear that no party involved would fulfill North Korea's demand for light-water reactor, saying "it is not economic or energy issue but a political issue."

 

However, Hill expressed the willingness to continue the talks.

 

"The six-party talks is useful, but it doesn't mean it is easy," Hill said. "We need patience."

 

"There will be a point at which we look at the deadline, but we are not at the point yet," Hill said.

 

"I will be here as long as it useful," he said.

 

The US and North Korean chief delegates had two bilateral meetings during the first two days of the ongoing fourth round of the six-party talks.

 

Hill said the six parties, including China, North Korea, US, South Korea, Russia and Japan, are not considering a new draft of the common document.

 

"The fourth-draft is pretty good. We have made a lot of compromises," he said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2005)