US chief delegate Christopher Hill said here late Thursday that bilateral talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) went into a "standoff".

"There wasn't much progress today", Hill told reporters at hotel.

Hill said major "disagreement" exists between the United States and the DPRK. "The DPRK has a whole new concept," he said, noting that the previous four drafts of common document didn't include the light-water reactor issue.

Hill also made clear that no party involved would fulfill the DPRK's demand for light-water reactor, saying "it is not economic or energy issue but a political issue."

However, Hill expressed the willingness to continue the talks.

"The six-party talks is useful, but it doesn't mean it is easy, " Hill said. "We need patience."

"There will be a point at which we look at the deadline, but we are not at the point yet," Hill said.

"I will be here as long as it useful," he said.

The US and DPRK chief delegates had two bilateral meetings during the first two days of the ongoing fourth round of the six-party talks.

Hill said the six parties, including China, DPRK, the United States, Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, are not considering a new draft of the common document.

"The fourth-draft is pretty good. We have made a lot of compromises," he said.

Source: Xinhua