The statement from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing came after a confusing 24 hours that showed signs of both major progress and stalling in the attempts by six governments to resolve the 16-month dispute over the North's nuclear activities.

North Korea put an offer of nuclear disarmament on the bargaining table Thursday, then struck a characteristically tough stance by accusing the United States of blocking progress.

Its statement came after South Korea, China and Russia agreed to provide the impoverished North with crucial energy aid if it would agree to disarm.

"We will abandon our nuclear weapons program when the United States drops its hostile policy toward North Korea," said a statement read by an unidentified, clearly nervous North Korean official. "The United States should take all the responsibility for the meeting not making progress."

The conflicting signs - progress and immediate public criticism - are a hallmark of North Korea. But behind the rhetoric, Pyongyang's offer to end a 16-month standoff by stopping its nuclear activities was made unusual by a first - its delivery in the formal six-nation talks.

On Friday, the American side indicated it would remain. "The American delegation is prepared to stay through the end of the talks," said a U.S. Embassy spokeswoman in Beijing, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The talks will end Saturday with a closing ceremony, according to a statement issued by the South Korean delegation.

The Japanese news agency Kyodo reported that the U.S. delegation led by Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly was ready to end the talks if there was no "concession" from Pyongyang.

Kyodo, quoting "negotiation sources," said the United States wanted only a confirmation of all participants' willingness to continue the talks occasionally. Already, China and other participants have begun talking about a "regular framework" for continuing six-party talks at a lower official level.

The U.S. delegation in Beijing has made no public comment about the substance of the talks. In Washington on Thursday, Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the meetings so far had displayed a "promising attitude."

The previous round of six-nation talks in August, which ended without any substantial result, was scheduled for only three days. But parties left the schedule open-ended this time, hoping it would allow for more progress - which some saw happening.

In Seoul on Friday, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun voiced optimism, saying his delegation had "exerted our efforts."

"It seems that some of the major huddles have been cleared and things are moving toward a solution," he said during a speech at a seminar in Seoul. "Still there remain problems, but things are being sorted out and I am hopeful."

The six-country talks have brought together the Koreas, Japan, the United States, Russia and China. Washington wants Pyongyang to abolish its nuclear program, and the North insists on aid and security guarantees first.

China's delegate, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, described Thursday's talks as "substantial."

Delegates returned to the bargaining table after a heavy - and occasionally confounding - day of developments Thursday.

In Washington, Powell said the first two days of talks were positive. "There's a promising attitude that's emerging from those meetings, and hopefully we can move in the right direction there."

However, a U.S. official familiar with the talks said North Korea showed no interest in meeting the American insistence on a complete and verifiable dismantling of its nuclear weapons programs before the North can receive any concessions.

North Korea's five negotiating partners all say they want the Korean Peninsula to be nuclear-free.

Russia said a "gap" that remained before the standoff could be solved fully. Its top delegate, Alexander Losyukov, said North Korea showed "readiness" to abolish its nuclear weapons program but wanted to maintain a "peaceful" nuclear capability.

"North Korea is not ready to drop all its nuclear programs. It's not realistic to ask them to do it," Losyukov said. "North Korea is ready to drop its nuclear defense program, but some countries are not satisfied with that."

He added: "We have certain doubts that it will be possible to remove it during this session of talks."

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