No breakthrough at N Korea talks

US delegate Christopher Hill will hold a press conference later

A fifth round of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme has ended with no real signs of progress.

A closing statement only reaffirmed the parties' commitment to implementing a preliminary agreement forged during the last round of talks in September.

The six parties - North and South Korea, the US, Russia, China and Japan - agreed to meet again soon.

Reports suggest the question of who does what first to resolve the nuclear crisis continues to dog the talks.

"The parties conducted serious, pragmatic and constructive discussions and put forward proposals on how to implement the joint statement of the fourth round of the six-party talks," the statement said.

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

"The parties agreed to formulate concrete plans, measures and steps to fulfil the joint statement," it continued.

The head of the US delegation, Christopher Hill, is due to hold a press conference later on Friday.

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

The North agreed to give up its nuclear programme in exchange for energy assistance and other benefits.

But Pyongyang then asked for a light-water 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.

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

In the meantime, the US wants the North to freeze its plutonium reprocessing plant at Yongbyon.

"We've told them that they're, I think, wasting a lot of time and energy keeping that thing operating," Mr Hill said on Friday before the last session of talks began.

"Whatever that thing produces is going to have to be returned and we will be absolutely careful to make sure that we have collected every bit of fissionable material," he said.

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.