BEIJING, Sept 18: North Korean nuclear talks entered a make-or-break day of wrangling on Sunday to strike a deal on a joint document to help resolve the deadlock, with Japan saying there was still a chance for agreement. “It will be an important day which will make-or-break this round,” said chief Japanese delegate Kenichiro Sasae as he left the hotel for a meeting of the top envoys from the six countries involved.

Disagreements remain over energy-starved North Korea’s demand for the right to peaceful atomic power in return for giving up its nuclear weapons programme, with the United States and Japan saying the country cannot be trusted.

The timing of concessions to North Korea in return for abandoning its nuclear arsenal is also an issue, with the United States wanting a complete and verifiable dismantling of the weapons first.

Mr Sasae, nevertheless, said he remained hopeful a solution would be reached.

“I do believe there is a possibility of reaching an agreement. I am not sure at this moment,” he said.

US envoy Christopher Hill said after a banquet hosted by China on Saturday evening that another recess was possible, where the countries would go back to their governments for further advice.

Three previous rounds and a 13-day, fourth-round session failed to narrow the gap separating the United States and North Korea in a crisis now three years old. The fourth round resumed on Tuesday after a five-week recess.

The standoff erupted in October 2002 when the US said North Korea was running a clandestine uranium enrichment programme, prompting it to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

China put forward a new version of a draft common document on Friday.—AFP