The six parties to the Korean Peninsula nuclear talks have somewhat "finetuned" their stances on the scope of and conditions for dunuclearization, the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy and the light-water reactor issues, said South Korea's chief negotiator.

 

Song Min-soon, chief negotiator of South Korea, made the remarks Thursday evening at a press briefing. Song said that during the two-hour chief negotiators' meeting Thursday afternoon, the parties clarified their positions on key differences, but he declined to give details.

 

The parties have demonstrated their resolve to continue the talks and vowed to strive for a common document, he said.

 

Nevertheless, Song said it is hard to predict how long the talks will proceed as it is entering the phase of "substantial discussion."

 

South Korea and Chinese delegations had dinner Thursday evening for consultation after the chief negotiators' meeting, he said, adding both sides agreed to work for narrowing the core differences between relevant parties.

 

He said the Chinese delegation is to hold bilateral meetings with relevant delegations Friday to promote progress of the talks.

 

Hyon Hak-bong, spokesman for the delegation of North Korea, said the difference between North Korea and the US on the light-water reactor issue has become a major obstacle for the six-party talks.

 

The six parties, China, North Korea, the US, South Korea, Russia and Japan, reopened the nuclear talks Tuesday after a five-week recess.

 

However, the talks hit a snag Wednesday as the North Korean delegation insisted on its right to civilian nuclear programs, especially alight-water reactor, while the US side rejected North Korea's demand, saying it is not on the table.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2005)