S Korea and US split over North

The six-party talks are due to resume later this month

South Korea's unification minister has reportedly disagreed with the US on how to end North Korea's nuclear threat.

Chung Dong-young told a South Korean internet site that Pyongyang should be allowed a peaceful nuclear programme.

The US maintains North Korea must end all its nuclear activities, whether for making weapons or producing energy, to receive aid and diplomatic concessions.

The fact that the two allies appear to disagree so fundamentally does not bode well for on-going talks on the issue.

Six-nation discussions on the North Korean nuclear issue are set to resume in Beijing, during the week beginning 29 August.

The talks - including delegates from the two Koreas, the US, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea - broke for a three-week recess on 7 August, after failing to reach an agreement during 13 days of negotiations.

'A general right'

Chung Dong-young said in an interview with Media Daum, an internet news portal: "I think North Korea ought to have the right to develop nuclear power plants for peaceful purposes, such as agricultural, medical, and energy-generating ones".

Mr Chung himself highlighted the difference between Seoul and Washington's positions on this issue.

"Seoul has believed, even before the resumption of the six-way talks, that if Pyongyang re-signs the Non-Proliferation Treaty and allows the inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is qualified to have peaceful nuclear programme," he said.

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 Timeline: Nuclear crisis

"[But] the US does not recognise North Korea's right to operate a peaceful nuclear programme, because Pyongyang broke the Geneva Agreement and developed nuclear weapons."

The US wants all the North's nuclear facilities dismantled before any concessions are made, and chief US delegate Christopher Hill has said Washington is not prepared to compromise on the issue.

It fears the North could change from generating power to making weapons, as it claims to have done in the past.

The South Korean Unification Ministry denied that the difference between Washington and Seoul would alter the two countries' commitment to resolve the North Korean stand-off.

"South Korea and the US fully understand each other's position and are in close consultation," a ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

Pushing for a break-through

North Korea's desire for nuclear energy was just one of the sticking points at the recent talks in Beijing.

The timing of North Korea's proposed disarmament - and whether it receives any aid before the process is completed - is another major stumbling block.

But the delegates appear determined to find a solution, and despite 13 days of discussions - a far longer period than in the previous three rounds of six-party talks - they have agreed to meet again later this month for further negotiations.

The nuclear crisis first erupted in 2002, when the US accused North Korea of pursuing an uranium enrichment project to make nuclear weapons.

The stand-off deepened when Pyongyang withdrew from the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Tensions were raised further earlier this year when it announced it had plutonium-based nuclear weapons.

The North continues to deny US reports of a uranium-based capability.