http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4732091.stm
Negotiators are reported to have had heated exchanges on the sixth day of six-party talks in Beijing on North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.
One delegate said fierce clashes occurred as the negotiating teams tried to hammer out an agreement on a statement of basic principles.
The parties failed to agree on a final statement during three previous rounds of talks in Beijing.
The two Koreas, the US, China, Russia and Japan are represented at the talks.
The BBC's Charles Scanlon says there is a new sense of urgency at these latest talks following North Korea's declaration earlier this year that it had a nuclear arsenal.
Incentives
A document put forward by China calls for a Korean peninsula entirely free of nuclear weapons.
It also urges incentives for North Korea, including economic aid and security guarantees.
The head of the American team, Christopher Hill, said the draft statement put forward by China was "a good basis" for an agreement.
CRISIS TIMELINE
Oct 2002: US says North Korea is enriching uranium in violation of agreements
Dec 2002: North Korea removes UN seals from Yongbyon nuclear reactor, expels inspectors
Feb 2003: IAEA refers North Korea to UN Security Council
Aug 2003: First round of six-nation talks begins in Beijing
Feb 2005: Pyongyang says it has built nuclear weapons for self-defence
But he added that it was proving a very lengthy and difficult process.
One of the key issues is the debate on who should take the first step to kick-start the denuclearisation process.
Pyongyang wants diplomatic relations with the US and a peace agreement, in addition to security guarantees and economic help.
For its part, Washington has called for concessions on North Korea's development of ballistic missiles and its human rights record.
These demands are in addition to Washington's most significant requirement - that Pyongyang agree to the verifiable dismantlement of its nuclear weapons programmes.
Step-by-step
North Korea objects to US demands that it make the first move by scrapping its nuclear weapons facilities.
Instead it wants a step-by-step process in which it receives progressive rewards and incentives.
The North has also continued to reject American allegations that it is running a secret enriched uranium programme in addition to its well-known plutonium plant at Yongbyon.
That dispute provoked the current crisis, which began nearly three years ago and has blocked diplomatic progress since.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4732091.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4737045.stm
N Korea pessimistic about talks
A North Korean envoy said multinational talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programme had made no progress, as delegates ended their eight day of negotiation.
"The situation is bad," said Kim Kye-gwan, but added: "We will do our best to reach an agreement."
The six nations - the two Koreas, the US, China, Russia and Japan - are currently locked in deadlock over a new draft document written by China.
Chief Japanese negotiator Kenichiro Sasae said the talks "have come close to the moment of truth", adding that it was up to North Korea to help make a breakthrough.
Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said one of the sticking points was North Korea's denial that it harboured a second, secret nuclear programme, in addition to the plutonium one it has admitted to.
"North Korea still does not acknowledge that it has a uranium enrichment programme," Mr Machimura said from Tokyo.
"The work on the wording of a joint statement is not going smoothly."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4737045.stm