North Korea nuclear talks resume

The start of the Beijing talks was overshadowed by harsh words

A fifth round of six-party talks aimed at urging North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions has resumed in China.

In an opening statement, Chinese delegate Wu Dawei called on negotiators to be flexible and pragmatic.

During the last talks, in September, hopes were raised of a breakthrough, when the six nations involved agreed on a statement of principles.

But Pyongyang then asked for a light-water nuclear reactor - a demand rejected by the US.

The chief US negotiator, Christopher Hill, restated on Wednesday that Pyongyang could not receive the reward of such a reactor until it had disarmed and opened to nuclear inspectors.

Earlier, North Korea's foreign ministry said recent comments by US President George Bush had jeopardised the talks.

The dispute seems to have been triggered by remarks Mr Bush allegedly made in Brazil at the weekend.

SEPTEMBER AGREEMENT N Korea to abandon all nuclear weapons and programmes N Korea to return to nuclear treaty and UN monitoring US states it has no intention of attacking N Korea N Korea says it has right to "peaceful" nuclear energy" N Korea's demand for light water reactor to be discussed at "appropriate time" Full text of agreement

Japanese and South Korean press reports said the US president referred to a "tyrant in North Korea", without mentioning the country's leader Kim Jong-il by name.

North Korea's foreign ministry responded indignantly.

Mr Bush "malignantly slandered our supreme headquarters with such unspeakable vituperation as 'tyrant' and the like," a spokesman said in a statement carried by the North Korean KCNA news agency.

"If this is true, what he uttered is a blatant violation of the spirit of the joint statement of the six-party talks, which calls for 'respect for sovereignty' and 'peaceful co-existence'," 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 Sep 2005: N Korea agrees to give up nuclear goals Timeline: Nuclear crisis Have your say

The agreement struck at the last round of talks, in September, remains in doubt.

The North agreed to give up its nuclear programme in exchange for energy assistance and other benefits, but then demanded a civilian nuclear reactor as well.

Both Japan and the US have rejected Pyongyang's demand for such a reactor, which would be expensive and take years to build.

There are also questions over the timing of the agreement's implementation.

The North has insisted that it should not have to make the first move.

The nuclear dispute began in late 2002, when the US accused North Korea of having a uranium-based nuclear arms programme, in violation of international agreements.

The six nations represented at the talks are the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.