The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Monday that the just-closed third round of the six-party talks made "positive progress" but also indicated big differences between Pyongyang and Washington are hampering a decisive breakthrough in settling the nuclear issue.

"Unlike previous talks, each party advanced various proposals and ways and had a discussion on them in a sincere atmosphere at the talks. Some common elements helpful to making progress in the talks were found there," said a statement released by the Foreign Ministry.

"The US side said it would take note of the DPRK's proposal for 'reward for freeze' and would seriously examine it. An agreement was reached on such issues as taking simultaneous actions on the principle of 'words for words' and 'actions for actions' and discussion focused on the issue of 'reward for freeze'," the statement said, adding that "this was positive progress."

It said that "substantial negotiations could not start among the parties as the DPRK and the United States failed to wipe out bilateral mistrust and misunderstanding."

It stressed that "reward for freeze," the first-phase action for a package solution based on the principle of simultaneous actions, was the only way of seeking a step-by-step solution to the nuclear issue.

"Our stand is that a nuclear freeze should be accompanied by reward, including the lifting of US sanctions and the blockade against the DPRK, energy assistance of 2,000,000 kw through the supply of heavy oil and electricity, and the period of the freezing would depend on whether a reward is made and not under any circumstances," it said.

The statement said it was fortunate that the United States didn't use the expression of CVID -- the US demand for a complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of DPRK's nuclear programs-- and accepted the principle of "words for words" and "actions for actions" at the talks.

However, it said the US "landmark proposal" would not convince the participants in the talks as it deviated from the principle of simultaneous action and was based on the demand that the DPRK dismantle its nuclear program first.

The statement rejected the US proposal for preparing the dismantlement of DPRK's nuclear program in a "period of three months."

The statement urged the United States to seriously study the DPRK's proposal of "reward for freeze" and drop its assertion over the DPRK's enriched uranium program, committing itself to abandoning hostile policy towards the DPRK and take measures for the reward for nuclear freeze in the future.

Delegations from China, the DPRK, the United States, Russia, South Korea and Japan held the third round of six-party talks in Beijing last week to peacefully resolve the nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula. The DPRK, the United States and South Korea advanced their proposals for resolving the nuclear issue separately at the talks. All parties agreed to open the next round of the talks by the end of September.

Source: Xinhua