Although Wednesday's one-on-one meeting between US and North Korea "did not make much progress," US chief negotiator Christopher Hill said he hoped for a better day of talks to come Thursday.

"I have much patience," he said when he left the hotel for the third day's six-party talks Thursday morning.

The US and North Korean delegations had their first one-on-one meeting Wednesday since the second phase of the fourth-round six-party talks resumed Tuesday.

He said US had put forward a generous and rather comprehensive package to North Korea, including financial (aid), energy and electricity.

Hill reiterated his hope that North Korea would focus on the proposals included in the fourth draft common document tabled in the previous phase of the six-party talks ending on August 7.

"It's not now for the US to start discussions over North Korea's new demand for a new light-water reactor," he said.

North Korea has called for a new light-water reactor to be available within the framework of the six-party talks. However the US side has repeatedly emphasized its firm opposition to it.

"There're not too many other ways I know how to say 'no' without slipping into another language," Hill said of his meeting Wednesday with the North Korean delegation.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2005)