Talks in Bejing on the North Korean nuclear crisis closed today with what the six nations had predicted to be the best possible outcome - agreement to meet again.
Pyongyang took the opportunity to take a parting swipe at the United States, condemning it for its 'hostile policy'.
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Frustrations had bubbled to the surface during the three days of meetings amid signs the world's most reclusive communist state had told its US foes it would prove its nuclear credentials by carrying out a test.
The only concrete result came when host China said all six countries - the two Koreas, Japan, Russia, the United States and China - were in agreement to work towards a Korean peninsula free of nuclear arms and would meet again within two months. It set no place or date and predicted future talks to end a nuclear standoff that erupted 10 months ago would not be easy.
"The talks saw progress and also differences, but all parties thought the talks were beneficial," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a closing ceremony at which he read out a six-point agreement to applause from all delegations.
Under the six-point agreement, no party would aggravate the situation while talks proceeded and all recognised the need to address North Korea's security concerns.
Underscoring the urgency of the standoff, head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei said North Korea had been guilty of nuclear "blackmail" and could not be trusted. North Korea posed the world's biggest nuclear threat, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency told the BBC.
The crisis may require many more rounds of talks because the United States, which says Pyongyang may already have one or two nuclear weapons, is looking for a commitment that North Korea will scrap its programme before making any concessions. Isolated North Korea wants security guarantees before dismantling.
"In the final analysis, the US would move only after the DPRK (North Korea) is completely disarmed," North Korea's official KCNA news agency quoted delegate Mr Kim Yong-il as saying. "The DPRK cannot interpret this otherwise than a US intention to invade it after it is disarmed."
North Korea wants a package including a non-aggression treaty and diplomatic relations with the United States, KCNA said. "In return, the DPRK will not manufacture nuclear weapons and allow in inspection, realise the ultimate dismantlement of nuclear facilities and stop the export and experiment of missiles," it said.