The United States will not bargain any more with North Korea on its nuclear weapons programme, the US envoy to six-nation disarmament talks said.
"I think we have put everything on the table. We offered a way forward on a number of issues. They (North Koreans) just have to make a decision. I don't think we are going to do any more bargaining," Christopher Hill told reporters.
Hill said Monday would be the final day of talks, which started Thursday on an optimistic note with host China presenting a proposal for North Korea to take initial steps towards disarmament in return for economic incentives.
"It is the last day. The Chinese announced to us and I was the first to second the motion," he said.
Hill hinted that the six-party talks — which began in 2003 and group China with the two Koreas, the United States, Japan and Russia — could be nearing the end of their usefulness if an agreement was not reached in this round.
"I think there is a certain life cycle to these negotiations and I think there is an opportunity here," he said.
"I think a lot of people have to look and consider the value of this diplomatic track.
"I don't want to predict this is the last chance but I think it is a moment that we have to see whether the DPRK (North Korea) is interested in this opportunity or not."
Chief Japanese envoy Kenichiro Sasae told reporters Sunday that the problem in the current round of talks was North Korea's "excessive expectations" for energy aid in exchange for beginning to dismantle its nuclear facilities.
North Korea, apparently emboldened by its first-ever nuclear test in October last year, has demanded two million tonnes of fuel oil and other inducements, Japanese press have reported.
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