Envoy says US running out of patience with NKorea's refusal to disarm
12/18 5:28:50 PM

BEIJING (AP) - The US envoy to talks on North Korea's nuclear program said Monday that Washington was running out of patience with the communist nation's refusal to disarm, calling for real progress at the start of the revived negotiations.

"The supply of our patience may have exceeded the international demand for that patience, and we should be a little less patient and pick up the pace and work faster," Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill told reporters.

He said the U.S. was hoping to move forward on a September 2005 agreement in the talks and take initial steps this week "to demonstrate that the process indeed has legs and is moving forward."