Geneva - North Korea insists the issue of US troop withdrawal from South Korea be discussed before delegates at the current round of peace talks set up a sub-committee to resolve other issues, according to a South Korean delegate at the fourparty talks in Geneva.
The North Korean request meant the talks were delayed for several hours yesterday and postponed twice during the day, with observers saying the talks had reached deadlock in what was supposed to be the last day of the present round.
Yesterday was to be the last meeting in this second round of talks, which began in Geneva on Monday. But North Korea's chief delegate, Mr Kim Kye-Gwan, said yesterday it was unlikely North Korea, South Korea, the US and China would reach any agreement.