The United States is opposed to giving the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) a grace period before it dismantles its nuclear arms program, top US envoy to six-party talks Christopher Hill said Wednesday.

The United States objects a demand by Pyongyang for an interim period allowing a freeze of their nuclear operations ahead of the dismantlement, Hill said at a forum organized by the United States Institute of Peace on an accord reached at the six-party talks in Beijing this month.

"I have just told the North Koreans ... (they) raised the idea (of) what can be done about putting the interim measure, a freeze measure. I told them I am not interested," Hill said.

Under the joint statement agreed to at the 2nd phase meeting of the fourth round six-party talks, the DPRK agreed in principle to disband its nuclear weapons network in return for security guarantees and energy aid.

The six-party talks, grouping the United States, the DPRK, South Korea, China, Russia and Japan, would resume in early November to discuss verification and other measures following Pyongyang's pledge to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs.

Source: Xinhua