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Seoul: North Korea has refused to continue nuclear talks until other countries involved in the negotiations guarantee promised energy aid, a South Korean official said on Thursday.
North Korean officials met with representatives from the five other countries – US, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea – on Wednesday in an attempt to end stalemate in the talks.
"The North has taken the position that if that (energy aid) is not fully guaranteed, it cannot cooperate in making further steps" at the nuclear talks, South Korean negotiator Hwang Joon-kook said.
"The North Korean side is now putting considerable importance on the energy and economic aid," he said.
Last year, following some progress, North Korea began disabling its main nuclear facilities but the process has slowed due to disputes over the communist nation's failure for full disclosure.
Hwang said the countries were unable to meet the North's energy demand because of Japan, which refuses to help the North due to an ongoing conflict.
However, Japanese and North Korean diplomats were meeting this week in Beijing and Hwang said "we expect good results will be produced."
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