Christopher Hill

The chief U.S. negotiator to talks in Beijing aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear program says he expects to return home Monday, whether or not an agreement is reached.

Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill says an amended draft submitted by China is the best hope so far for bringing all the sides together.  However, he says some phrases in the draft still need clarification.

Japan's chief delegate to the talks says he believes there is still a chance of reaching an agreement in the six-party talks that also include the two Koreas and Russia.

The delegates met twice Sunday.

North Korea is demanding that it be supplied with a light water nuclear reactor to generate electricity.  Washington has rejected that demand, saying Pyongyang has broken nonproliferation promises in the past.