In quotes: N Korea talks end

The six-way talks in Beijing ended with North Korea voicing misgivings over the USA's continued insistence that it disarm before taking negotiations further.

Despite the divide between the two countries - acknowledged most candidly by Russia - most delegates looked forward to greater rapprochement in the agreed second round of talks.

Japan expressed disappointment about the lack of progress in its talks with North Korea over its abducted citizens, but was hopeful that further multilateral talks would provide a platform to pursue the issue.

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In the final analysis, the US would move only after the DPRK is completely disarmed. It is against common sense to raise such a demand ... It is a brigandish-like demand beyond the tolerance limit.

By flatly refusing to exchange even words expressing the will to make policy switch over, the United States put the prospect of the next talks at peril.

N Korean official news agency KCNA

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If the nuclear issue between the two countries is to be peacefully settled through dialogue the US should make a radical switchover in its policy towards the DPRK. This is the master key to and a precondition for the settlement of the nuclear issue.

N Korean Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Yong-il

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North Korea has a long history of making inflammatory comments that serve to isolate it from the rest of the world ... [But] the US team has assessed the Beijing talks as positive. We're receiving excellent cooperation from our partners.

White House spokesperson Claire Buchan

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Despite a semblance of calm, some sort of internal intrigue and tension were making themselves felt at the talks ... A very big distance separates the positions of the DPRK and the USA.

There is a perception among Russian diplomats that Washington ought to go the extra mile on certain aspects to solve the problem.

The fact that the exchange of views did take place and that it is possible for us to move on to the next round of talks is a result that is not at all bad.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov

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The six-party talks constitute a historical opportunity for a peaceful resolution to the nuclear issue. No matter how sharp and complicated the contradictions and conflicts are among different countries, a solution acceptable to all sides concerned should and can be found through communication and dialogue. This is the best way to ensure national and regional security.

Although the talks in the future will not be smooth-sailing, as long as the relevant parties make joint efforts, we will find the way for a peaceful solution to the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue.

Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi

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There was a consensus that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula should be achieved by all means, and that there is a need to address the security concerns of North Korea. All the countries agreed no further action should be taken that will aggravate the situation.

South Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck

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It is regrettable that Japan and North Korea failed to make progress in bilateral talks.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda

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North Korea has given top priority to winning US guarantees for the survival of its regime. It is realistic to seek a breakthrough on the abduction issue while promoting multilateral talks.

Senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official

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BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.