Six-way talks blocked Ifax quotes N Korea source

MOSCOW, Dec 6 (Reuters) Six-way talks on North Korea cannot restart this year or in the foreseeable future because of ''unacceptable'' US conditions, Russia's Interfax news agency quoted a North Korean diplomatic source as saying today.

''The demands the United States put forward at consultations between the heads of delegations to the six-way talks ... which took place in Beijing on November 28 and 29, are unacceptable for North Korea,'' the agency quoted the source as saying.

''As a result, the renewal of the negotiation process in December 2006 is impossible, and -- if there is no change in the United States' position -- in the foreseeable future too.'' Interfax quoted the unnamed source in a report datelined Hong Kong. Russian media are among the few with regular access to official circles in reclusive North Korea.

The six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear programme have been stalled since Pyongyang walked out a year ago. South Korea, North Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the United States are the participants in the talks.

REUTERS SP BST1355